Sex offenders register still on review

The register is inaccessible to the public because of legal issues such as defamation and vigilantism

- Umamah Bakharia

The National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) is still in a “legislative review process” after its release was halted in February to address the confidentiality and disclosure clauses that prevent public access, the ministry of justice and constitutional development said.

These are contained in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act and in the Promotion of Access to Information Act.

Ministry spokesperson Terrence Manase noted that the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act criminalises the disclosure of information on the register, with penalties including fines or imprisonment.

“In light of these limitations, the ministry has initiated a legislative review process to address the confidentiality and disclosure clauses that currently prevent public access,” said Manase.

This comes after Police Minister Senzo Mchunu disclosed in response to questions from the Build One South Africa (Bosa) party in parliament recently that only 245 members of the police service’s 180 000-strong workforce have been screened against the register. This amounts to fewer than one in every 700 officers being vetted for possible sexual offences.

After Mchunu’s revelation, Bosa wrote to the justice department requesting access to the sex offenders register, but this was denied.

“Government is hellbent on keeping [the register] under wraps,” Bosa spokesperson Roger Solomons said.