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The move to make the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) public by the end of this month has been hailed as a game-changing step in the fight against sexual violence.
South Africa is especially racked with abuse cases against women and children, so making this registry open to the public is a bold step forward in making sure the scum of society can’t hide in the shadows anymore – while curbing femicide and keeping parents more informed, too.
The list of sexual offenders and gender-based violence (GBV) perpetrators will be published and available to the public by the end of February, according to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi.
Build One South Africa (Bosa) deputy leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster said that making the register public would serve as a powerful deterrent, sending a clear message that those who violate the rights and dignity of others can no longer hide in the shadows, per The Citizen.
“It has been difficult to understand why it isn’t public. We’ve referenced the UK, the US and Australia, where making the register public has led to important changes.
“In South Africa, you can always identify the victim of gender-based violence, especially in high-profile cases, but when you ask about the perpetrator, noone knows. This is someone who could move into your household or workplace and you’d have no idea who they are.
“In a country with high repetition where nine out of 10 offenders are reoffenders, we cannot afford to lack a system that does not identify them.”
Hlazo-Webster and Bosa launched a petition in November 2024, during the 16 days of activism for no violence against women and children, which garnered nearly 20,000 signatures to demand that the list be made public.
Kubayi’s spokesperson, Terrence Manase, said the NRSO had 32,501 “offenders active” who have been convicted of a sexual offence, with an additional 10,325 individuals being considered for inclusion.
“When someone is convicted of a sexual offence in court, a secondary process must be completed to add them to the register. This involves obtaining an “order for inclusion”. The 10 325 cases pending are those awaiting finalisation of this order, “after which they will be added to the register”.
Advocacy groups are warning that the effectiveness of the register depends on implementation. Manase said Kubayi had kicked off a multistakeholder consultative process, holding talks with the Office of the Information Regulator to strike a balance between protecting vulnerable people and staying within the limits of data privacy laws.
“The minister receives regular progress updates from the department to ensure that this important work remains a top priority, with every effort being made to ensure meaningful progress that strengthens the protection of South Africa’s most vulnerable people.”
Phase one will focus on granting access to institutions that work with children, such as schools, creches, and child-focused organisations, as well as regulatory bodies like the South African Council for Educators to assist with thorough vetting.
Phase two will expand access to general employers, aiming to promote safer hiring practices while still respecting legal data privacy protections.
Right now, the list is updated in real-time and maintained electronically, fully integrated into the department’s infrastructure through the integrated case management system, Manase explained.
Action Society spokesperson Juanita du Preez welcomed the move as someone from one of the organisations that had asked for the NRSO to be made public.
“Parents had no way to check if the people they trusted with their children have a history of sexual crimes. That is going to change now. Our argument has always been that privacy laws shouldn’t protect perpetrators of sexual crimes,” she said. “In South Africa, the conviction rates of these crimes are notoriously low because the children who fall prey to these monsters are often too young to testify in court.
“Going forward, one way will be able to check the NRSO for anyone and the publication of the list means that child predators after their conviction will now be known to the public and will never be in the position to work with children again,” said Du Preez.
This decision is huge considering that 16,097 teachers in South Africa have a criminal background, including rape, murder and assault, according to a recent study.
[Source: Citizen]
