National Register for Sex Offenders to go public: 'These people are destroying kids'

702's Bongani Bingwa interviews Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development of South Africa, Mmamoloko Kubayi.

Listen below:

If you're hiring someone to work with young children – whether in schools, churches, or even in your home – wouldn't you want to know if they are a sexual predator before making that decision?

A publicly available list could play a crucial role in preventing sexual offences against children, women, and others, by enabling people to identify potential predators.

"As a parent, when you leave your child at school, you need the comfort to know that I am not leaving my child in the hands of somebody that maybe during the day, I can receive a call that my child has been raped."

- Mmamoloko Kubayi, Minister – Justice and Constitutional Development of South Africa

For years, there has been heated debate about whether the National Sex Offender Registry should be made public.

In 2021, the Department of Justice opposed the idea, warning that it could encourage vigilante justice.

However, the government is now taking a bold step.

By the end of this month, the Department plans to make the registry available to the public, in an effort to combat gender-based violence and sexual crimes.

Kubayi emphasises the harsh reality, saying that "these people are destroying young kids" and leaving them "scarred for the rest of their lives."

She also points out a troubling truth: many of these offenders are repeat offenders.

To ensure compliance with POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act), she explains that the list will include the offenders' full names and the provinces where they reside.

"The ultimate responsibility is to have that register out in the public."

- Mmamoloko Kubayi, Minister – Justice and Constitutional Development of South Africa

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.

National Register for Sex Offenders to go public: 'These people are destroying kids' – Mmamoloko Kubayi

The Department plans to make the registry available to the public by the end of this month, in an effort to combat gender-based violence and sexual crimes.