Former Springbok rugby coach Nick Mallett's niece has resigned as a teacher at a leading Cape Town boys' school amid allegations of a sexual relationship with a pupil.
Fiona Viotti, 30, left Bishops with immediate effect this week as the R150,000-a-year school appointed an attorney to investigate what the principal described as "serious misconduct".
In a note to parents, Guy Pearson said: "I am aware there has been a lot of talk and speculation in the Bishops community and in the general public about the inappropriate behaviour of one of our teachers at the college.
"We are taking this very seriously. The teacher has resigned with immediate effect, and we have appointed an independent attorney to undertake an investigation.
"We understand that there will be lots of questions but please appreciate that this is a matter which needs to be managed with utmost sensitivity and I cannot share more information at this stage."
Adam Pike, chair of the Old Diocesans' Union, wrote to members yesterday saying: "Many of you by now will have read or heard of the alleged sexual relationship between a pupil and member of the Bishops staff."
He urged old boys "not to speculate in a way that may prejudice or inflame the ongoing inquiry".
He said Pearson and Pete Farlam, a clinical psychologist and head of the support unit at Bishops, would make arrangements "to assist anyone affected by the conduct of the teacher".
Viotti is the daughter of Nick's brother Dave, the first-team rugby coach at Bishops. She is the granddaughter of Anthony Mallett, the school's headmaster from 1964 to 1982.
The teacher, who married long-term boyfriend Pavo Viotti in September last year, was in charge of water polo at Bishops and also coached the under-14A rugby team.
Cullum Johnston, chair of Western Province Schools Water Polo, told the Sunday Times yesterday that Viotti had resigned as manager of its under-19 boys team.
The teacher, who got married last year, was in charge of water polo at Bishops and also coached the under-14A rugby team
Viotti forwarded questions from the Sunday Times to attorney William Booth, who said she had asked him to respond.
"The whole matter should be considered sub judice," he said. "And if there are videos, that is another aspect as to how you came into possession of the video or anybody got in possession of the video.
"You can't just publish videos if the person who is the subject matter of the video has not given permission for that to be published because that is a serious invasion of the person's rights in terms of our constitution."
A R6m-plus house in Constantia registered in Pavo's name had a car in the driveway when the Sunday Times visited yesterday but no-one answered the doorbell.
He did not respond to calls or SMSes from the Sunday Times yesterday.
His wife - from whom he is understood to have separated - was a water polo star as a teenager and was one of the "Beauties of Sport" featured in Sports Illustrated magazine in 2009.
She previously worked as a part-time model, and at Bishops she was assistant director of Kidd House, home from home for 105 day boys at the top-drawer school.
The Sunday Times approached Nick Mallett, and he replied: "No comment."
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