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Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has revealed that the National Sex Offenders Register (NSOR) now holds the names of 32,557 convicted sex offenders, with another 10,456 potential entries pending in court.
This revelation came in a parliamentary written reply to a question from Build One SA (Bosa), which had demanded clarity on the register’s contents.
The list was meant to be made public on February 28, but strict confidentiality laws under the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Act blocked its release. The Act prohibits the disclosure of any details in the register unless explicitly required.
Kubayi admitted the exact number on publication day remains uncertain, as the register is continuously updated. But critics, including Bosa, argue that 32,000 names barely scratch the surface of South Africa’s sexual offence crisis.
“Given the range of crimes covered under the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Act, Bosa questions whether all qualifying offenders have been added to the register. South Africa faces one of the highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual crimes globally, yet the current numbers appear unexpectedly low,” Bosa acting spokesperson Roger Solomons said.
Bosa deputy leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster echoed the concern, noting how South Africa has a low reporting and conviction rate when it comes to sexual crimes, although “we cannot simply accept that only 32,000 names appear on the register”
“It is imperative that we scrutinise this data to ensure that every convicted sexual offender is recorded and that the register serves its intended purpose of protecting potential victims.”
Bosa has been relentlessly pushing for the NSOR to be made public, rallying nearly 20,000 petition signatures to demand transparency.
Kubayi insists efforts to balance privacy with public safety are underway.
“To strike a balance between privacy and public safety, my department has initiated a consultative process involving legal experts, institutions and the Office of the Information Regulator. This engagement will ensure that all necessary safeguards are in place while prioritising the safety of children and vulnerable people,” Kubayi said.
But for many, the urgency is clear: South Africa is still in the grip of rampant sexual violence, and secrecy is no longer an option.
[Source: TimesLIVE]
