Controversy surrounds Anglican Church inquiry as Advocate Gauntlett recuses himself
Cape Town - Advocate Jeremy Gauntlett, a respected South African lawyer, has recused himself from the panel reviewing the Anglican Church of SA’s handling of reports of abuse by former camp master, John Smyth.
This comes after allegations that he carried out similar acts with a teenage boy, who is now a lecturer at Wits University.
The news went viral on X after Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town released a statement that he accepted Gauntlett’s offer to step down from the panel set up to examine the activities of the alleged serial abuser, Smyth, in South Africa.
The panel consisted of civil society leader Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Gauntlett, and Judge Ian Farlam, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal. Makgoba explained via the statement how he had come to appoint Gauntlett and how he heard of the latest allegations.
“On November 22, 2024, I appointed a high-level inquiry into the implications for the Anglican Church of Southern Africa of a Church of England review of serial violent abuse by Mr John Smyth in the UK and Zimbabwe in the 1980s and 1990s,” he said.
“On the evening of Thursday, January 16, I received a letter concerning a quite separate allegation of abuse, in which the complainant said that if Advocate Gauntlett did not step down from the panel by January 31, he (the complainant) would make the allegation public,” he said.
“Without further communication, the complainant later that evening published details of his allegations on social media.
“No complaint is known to have been made to Safe Church (ACSA’s specialist safeguarding body) or to the church itself on the matter over the past 40 years. “On the morning of Friday January 17, Advocate Gauntlett proposed that in the circumstances created by the letter, he step down from the panel, conveying a concern that the work of the Smyth inquiry not be in any way delayed or obstructed by the issue.
“I accepted his offer, subject to consultation with other members of the panel.”
The scandal hit last year following the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, after the Makin review revealed an entrenched cover up of abuse by Smyth, who had lived in Cape Town and worshipped at St Martin’s in Bergvliet.
At least 85 boys were believed to have been Smyth’s victims in various countries.
The Makin review called for a full independent investigation of Smyth’s activities in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The Cape Argus has since approached the Anglican Church
of South Africa’s Safe and Inclusive Church Commission for comment on the latest developments.
“The Safe and Inclusive Church Commission of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa is always saddened by any reports of hurt or harm that we receive,” they said.
“In all our actions, we will be guided by the wishes of the complainant with regard to the steps we take in addressing such complaints.
“We are aware of the matter as reported to us and will investigate the complaints as received. The wishes of the complainant and the findings of the investigation will determine the way forward.”