Build One South Africa Demanded Public Access to Register
The organisation delivered a petition with nearly 20,000 signatures to the Department of Justice to request public transparency.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Sex Crimes
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Build One South Africa (BOSA) has submitted a petition to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in Tshwane, calling for the National Register for Sex Offenders to be made public. The organisation issued a 30-day ultimatum for the government to produce a formal plan to implement public access.
Why it matters
BOSA argues that current restricted access prevents citizens from identifying individuals with past sex offense convictions, creating safety gaps. The government must now balance these transparency demands with existing privacy laws and constitutional protections.
As of March 2025, the national register contained 32,557 convicted sex offenders alongside 10,456 pending entries. Legislative amendments to section 52 of the Sexual Offences Act are still required to permit general public disclosure.
The players
Build One South Africa
This is a South African political organisation that advocates for government accountability and legislative reform.
Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
This is the national department responsible for the administration of the justice system and maintenance of the sex offender registry.
The details
The current register, established under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act of 2007, keeps data confidential to ensure legal compliance. The Department of Justice is currently pursuing a phased approach, focusing on allowing access to institutions that work with children before considering broader employer access.
Timeline
2007: The National Register for Sex Offenders was established by law.
March 2025: The Ministry confirmed legal restrictions prevented register publication.
September 2025: Minister Kubayi directed the department to pursue legislative amendments.
April 2026: BOSA announced the development of a draft amendment bill.
14 October 2026: BOSA marched and delivered the petition to the department.
Legal Context
The push for transparency marks a departure from the privacy-focused framework established by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007. Current efforts to reform the registry mirror broader national debates concerning the balance between public safety and individual privacy rights.
If public access is granted, it could change how local businesses and institutions conduct background checks on employees. Residents would gain the ability to search for offenders, potentially affecting how schools and daycares assess safety risks.
The takeaway
Public safety advocates continue to pressure the state to prioritise transparency regarding offender identities. Readers should remain updated on upcoming legislative amendments that may alter how criminal background information is accessed in South Africa.
What happens next
The government is expected to release a detailed implementation plan regarding the registry within 30 days of the 14 October 2026 petition delivery.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving legal frameworks surrounding registry access, visit the Sex Crimes section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sunday World.
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