Police to question 16 youths, supported by Roebuck

With his personal life being the talking point after he committed suicide, the police are set to speak to 16 youngsters, who were sponsored and supported by deceased cricket writer Peter Roebuck.

The youngsters, many from Zimbabwe, lived with the former Somerset captain in his eight-bedroom house in South Africa.

Roebuck had taken his life when he jumped from his sixth-floor hotel room after being questioned by police over allegations of sexual assault.

Police have said nothing on the cause of his death but unconfirmed reports say that Roebuck faced arrest following allegation by a Zimbabwean youngsters that the British national tried to assault him sexually against his will.

"The ongoing investigation into the death of cricketer turned commentator Peter Roebuck, 55, will see police quiz 16 male students who lived at his home in South Africa.

"Officers will now talk to 16 young men - aged 18 to 26 -whose education was being paid for by the sportsman and who lived at his eight-bedroom house in Pietermaritzburg, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal," a report in 'Daily Mail' said.

The young boys are mostly from Zimbabwe and many came from a home for abandoned boys in the country's capital of Harare.

According to the Sunday Times, Tatenda Dennis Chadya, who was one of the first to be sponsored by Roebuck said he thought of them as sons.

"These allegations have come as a complete shock to us all. Peter wanted us to be the best that we can and he was inspiration to us all," he told the newspaper.