The appellant, Willem Jacobus du Plessis, a primary school principal, was convicted in the District Court, Wonderboom, of fraud, three counts of theft, and seven counts of indecent assault committed between 1998 and 2001. The fraud and theft charges arose from abuse of his position of trust, including misappropriating school funds and property for personal and family benefit. The indecent assault charges related to repeated sexual misconduct towards female staff members during school-related outings, team-building events and trips, where the appellant exploited his authority. One indecent assault (count 35) occurred during a rafting trip on the Hartebeespoort Dam, where he pressed himself against the complainant and interfered with the button of her trousers. The appellant denied the conduct but did not challenge the credibility findings of the trial court. He was sentenced to periods of imprisonment under s 276(1)(i) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, to run concurrently. Appeals to the High Court were dismissed, and the present appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal concerned one conviction for indecent assault and several sentences.