Demand for immediate publication of National Register for Sex Offenders

CIVIL rights organisation, Action Society, is demanding that the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development publish the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) immediately, citing a moral failure in protecting vulnerable children as the register remains inaccessible.

But the department said they were unable to pin a date on the release of the NRSO, but they were prioritising the register’s release.

Terrence Manase, spokesperson for the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, said they were in the process of amending sections of the statute which prevented the register from being made public.

“This legislative review is necessary to ensure that the amendments are constitutionally sound and strike the right balance between public access, privacy rights, and the integrity of the criminal justice system.

“We have circulated a draft proposal to selected key stakeholders to gather their input and ensure a comprehensive and considered approach in shaping the proposed amendments. 

“The consultation process is a critical step to ensure that the final framework is both practical and legally robust. Once this phase is concluded, the department will proceed with the formal amendment process, which will include the introduction of the proposed legislative changes through the appropriate parliamentary processes,” he added.

Manase said they remained committed to making the register publicly accessible in a manner that promoted transparency, strengthened the protection of vulnerable groups, especially children, and upheld the rights of all affected parties.

“While there is no specific timeframe at this stage, are are prioritising the matter and working diligently to ensure that it is finalised as soon as possible. The parliamentary process might also take some time, as it involves several stages of consideration and approval."

Juanita du Preez, spokesperson for Action Society, said the department had made promises to make the register public in February.

“Eight months later, there is still no public register, and no credible explanation. Every day that this register remains hidden, children are placed at risk,” said 

She said the government was protecting the privacy of offenders, at the cost of the safety of children and vulnerable people.

“This is not a technical delay. It is a moral failure that allows predators to continue hiding in plain sight. The government has promised transparency, yet continues to protect the privacy of offenders instead of the safety of our children.

“Recent figures underline the urgency. The Education Labour Relations Council recorded 111 cases of sexual harassment or abuse of pupils by teachers during the 2024/25 year, an increase from 82 cases the previous year. 

“A South African Council for Educators (Sace) study found 474 cases of sexual offences by teachers between 2019 and 2022, while Statistics South Africa’s report - Crime Against Children 2022/23 - indicated that nearly 40 percent of all reported rape victims in South Africa are children under the age of 18,” Du Preez added.

She said they had been calling for the publication of the NRSO for more than five years. 

“In 2020, the organisation launched its Know Your Neighbour campaign to give parents access to information about people who have contact with their children. In 2021, it welcomed the expansion of the register but warned that it would be meaningless if it remained inaccessible to the public. 

“Since then, we have repeatedly exposed the dysfunction of the register, the failure to vet individuals working with children, and the ongoing risk this poses to communities,” she added.

Action Society is demanding the department publish the full NRSO in a format that is publicly accessible and searchable in line with international best practice. 

They are also calling for the department to provide a clear and immediate timeline for publication and implementation. 

“Every person who works with or has access to children should be vetted against the register before being placed in any position of trust. Communities must be notified when registered offenders are released on parole or relocate to new areas, and the Department must publish quarterly reports on the number of offenders added to the register and the progress toward full publication. The government has delayed for too long. This register was meant to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. Every day of inaction endangers another child. South Africans have a right to know who the predators are in their midst,” Du Preez added.

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