South African Government Under Fire as National Sex Offenders Register Remains Shielded Despite Year-Old Transparency Pledge

BOSA condemns the Justice Department for failing to make the National Register of Sexual Offenders public. Read about the legislative delays and safety concerns.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 6:22 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from IOL

A Broken Promise on Public Safety

The South African government’s commitment to transparency in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) has come under intense scrutiny this week. It has been over a year since Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, first assured the nation that the National Register of Sexual Offenders (NRSO) would be made accessible to the general public. However, the initiative remains stalled in a "preparatory phase," a delay that opposition leaders have labeled as an unacceptable failure to prioritize the safety of the country’s most vulnerable citizens.

Legislative Hurdles and Legal Deadlocks

The primary obstacle to the register’s release lies in the existing legal framework. Under Section 52 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, it is currently a criminal offense to disclose or publish any information contained within the NRSO. Minister Kubayi recently informed Parliament that her department is advocating for significant amendments to Chapter 6 of the Act to remove these confidentiality barriers. Despite these efforts, the Office of the Chief State Law Advisor has yet to provide a final legal opinion on the constitutionality of such a move, citing concerns over the potential infringement of privacy and dignity rights enshrined in the Constitution.

BOSA’s Demand for Accountability

Build One South Africa (BOSA) has been at the forefront of the push for public access, arguing that the right to community safety far outweighs the privacy rights of convicted sex offenders. BOSA spokesperson Roger Solomons highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that South Africans have a right to know if any of the 32,557 listed offenders are living in their neighborhoods or working in their schools. The party, which launched a nationwide petition in late 2024 that garnered nearly 20,000 signatures, accused the government of a "sluggish pace" that effectively shields predators from public awareness.