By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, announced that the list of sexual offenders and gender-based violence (GBV) perpetrators will be published and available to the public.
Kubayi made the announcement during the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation’s 365 Days Against GBV Awareness Campaign in Soweto, which has been advocating for the prevention of gender-based violence since 1998.
She highlighted that the new register aims to protect vulnerable groups, particularly children, by giving parents and communities access to vital information about offenders.
“The release of this register will help safeguard our children and allow the public to stay informed about those convicted of GBV-related crimes, “Kubayi said. “It’s crucial that we take every possible step to protect our families.”
Alongside the register, the government is also focusing on enhancing the justice system’s response to GBV. Plans are underway to upgrade 100 district courts with specialised services for GBV survivors, ensuring that experts are available to provide support, counselling and a sensitive approach to handling such cases.
Gugu Motlanthe, executive trustee of the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation, stressed the need to break the silence and stigma that enable abuse to persist. She emphasised that it’s a collective responsibility to ensure that perpetrators face consequences for their actions, particularly those in positions of power.
South Africa’s move to make this register public is in line with similar actions in other countries.
The United States, for example, maintains a national sex offender registry, and the UK has a system for disclosing criminal histories related to sexual offenses.
Globally, there is increasing momentum for more openness around those convicted of sexual crimes, with the goal of improving public safety and preventing future abuse.