Public release of National Register for Sex Offenders halted
There has been a delay in the public release of the National Register for Sex Offenders.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has blamed the delay on stringent confidentiality and disclosure provisions under the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Act.
The public release was initially scheduled for Friday.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi had initially given a deadline of the end of February.
However, the department said there is a need for a legislative review to enable key reforms, particularly addressing the confidentiality and disclosure provisions restricting public access.
The Sexual Offences and Related Matters Act limits public access to the NRSO to protect offenders' privacy while allowing access to essential stakeholders, like employers working with vulnerable individuals, to ensure safety.
READ: Calls for Justice Minister to release sex offenders register
"The minister remains committed to making the register public as soon as possible, in a legally compliant manner, meeting all necessary regulatory and legal requirements," Kubayi's spokesperson, Terrance Manase, said.
To address the delay, Kubayi has instructed the department to adopt a phased approach for releasing the register to stakeholders most affected by sexual offenders
Phase one will prioritise access for institutions working with children, such as schools, early childhood development centres, and child-focused organisations, while phase two will extend access to general employers to support safer hiring practices, with continued protection of personal information.
Manase confirmed that the minister remains committed to ensuring the NRSO is accessible in a lawful, responsible manner.
"Once the legislative review is completed and the register is ready for release, the ministry will make a formal announcement," he added.
ALSO READ: Deadline for publishing of sexual offenders register looming
A specific timeline for the release remains unconfirmed.
Meanwhile, Build One South Africa deputy leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster expressed disappointment over the delay.
"This is how we better protect ourselves as women, as mothers, and as parents. We need to know if the doctor down the road is a convicted sex offender or if the school my child attends is safe. This register must be made public," she said.
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