Renowned advocate Jeremy Gauntlett steps down amid historic sexual harassment claims.
Brick Court Chambers
This follows recent claims by Hylton White, who has come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Gauntlett. White came out after the Anglican church had appointed Gauntlett to examine the activities of serial abuser John Smyth in South Africa.
The late Smyth stands accused of sexually abusing at least 85 boys across multiple countries, leaving a trail of alleged victims in his wake.
He revealed that he had reported the allegations against Gauntlett to the Anglican Church in South Africa, but his efforts were met with silence.
In response to the allegations, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba confirmed that Gauntlett had offered to step down from the inquiry panel investigating Smyth’s actions a proposal the Archbishop readily accepted.
The General Council of the Bar (GCB) announced that it has escalated the allegations against Gauntlett to the Cape Bar and the Johannesburg Society of Advocates for thorough investigation. The GCB acknowledged its awareness of the serious claims surrounding Gauntlett.
“The gravity of such allegations cannot be overstated; they deeply concern not only the South African public but also the legal community and the GCB,” the council stated.
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