THE National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) is expected to be publicly accessible by the end of this month, following years of advocacy from organisations working to combat gender-based violence and child abuse.

The announcement by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi has been met with both support and caution from various groups.

Sabrina Walter, founder of Women For Change, welcomed the public availability of the National Register for Sex Offenders, calling it a long-overdue step towards accountability.

She said this move directly addresses a key demand in their recent petition to President Cyril Ramaphosa, which urges him to declare gender-based violence and femicide a national emergency.

“South Africa has struggled with accountability for too long; one of the biggest challenges fuelling our GBVF pandemic. Perpetrators walk free; repeat offenders remain hidden, and survivors often feel silenced and powerless. The public availability of the NRSO marks one of the most critical steps in protecting communities and strengthening accountability in South Africa.”

However, she raised concerns about the registry’s accuracy and enforcement.

“The registry must be comprehensive, up-to-date, and error-free, ensuring that no offender goes unnoticed while preventing wrongful listings.”

Walter cautioned that corruption could undermine the register, allowing offenders to bribe their way out of accountability.

She also acknowledged the potential stigma faced by the families of offenders but stressed the need to prioritise survivors.

“My biggest concern regarding the public availability of the NRSO is the potential impact on the families of perpetrators, especially their children, who may face stigma and backlash for crimes they did not commit. However, we must also stop shifting the blame onto the survivors and instead focus on holding the perpetrators fully accountable so they hopefully start thinking twice before committing such horrific crimes.”

Action Society welcomed the announcement that the NRSO will be made public.

Action Society spokesperson Juanita du Preez said: "Until now, in South Africa, parents had no way to check if the people they trust with their children have a history of sexual crimes. That is going to change now. Action Society's argument has always been that privacy laws should not protect perpetrators of sexual crimes, and we are pleased that the pressure has paid off."

"The publication of the NRSO means that child predators, after their conviction, will now be known to the public and will never again be in the position to work with children," she said.

Cape Times