Sports Illustrated Model-Turned Teacher Accused Of Sex With At Least 5 Male Students In South Africa

A former teacher at an elite boys’ college in Cape Town, South Africa, was found to have engaged in sexual activities with multiple students, the school said Monday.

Fiona Viotti, 30, resigned on Oct. 11 after serving as a history teacher and water polo coach at Bishops Diocesan College. She left the school after allegations surfaced of a relationship with an 18-year-old male student and after reports of relationships with several other students, according to South African online news site News24.

According to the school's investigation, she had engaged in sexual activities with at least five students from 2013 to 2019. Viotti and the students had recorded and shared explicit videos and pictures of their time. None of the students were found to be below the age of 16, which is South Africa’s age of consent.

“As a school we are deeply saddened by these events and remain committed to ensuring the mental health and wellbeing of those affected,” headmaster Guy Pearson said in a statement. “As the teacher resigned from Bishops with immediate effect on the 11th October 2019, no disciplinary action can be taken against her by the school for these breaches.”

While outlets have reached out to Viotta for a statement, her lawyer, William Booth, said she was in a “fragile state” following the scandal and not fit to provide any interviews.

“She was in no position to make a statement and this is not a criminal matter,” Booth said, according to The Times of London.

Viotti previously worked as a model, appearing on an issue of South Africa’s Sports Illustrated in its 2009 “Beauties of Sports” issue. She was hired by Bishops Diocesan College in 2013 and worked there up until her resignation. Her grandfather had also served as Bishops’ headmaster from 1964 to 1982.

When news of the sex scandal surfaced in October, the search term "Fiona Viotti" was a popular trend in South Africa and other countries. Some Snapchat videos reportedly ended up making the rounds on social media and were posted on pornographic website PornHub. Videos of Viotti on pornographic websites have reportedly been taken down.