Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
07 March 2025 | 13:35 CAT

Image: Facebook

The South African government is under mounting pressure as civil rights group Build One South Africa (BOSA) invokes the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to demand the release of the long-overdue National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO).

Despite Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi’s commitment to making the register public by the end of February, the deadline has come and gone, with no clear answers. Now, BOSA is taking legal steps to hold the government accountable.

“This is very discouraging,” BOSA representative Roger Solomons told Radio Islam International. “For two years, we have mobilized communities, gathered over 20,000 signatures, and pushed for transparency. The Minister gave her word, yet on the last day of February, she backtracked, citing legal concerns over the confidentiality of perpetrators.”

BOSA has made it clear that they reject the idea that the privacy of convicted sexual offenders should take priority over public safety. The organization argues that South Africans have a right to know who these individuals are, given the country’s alarmingly high rates of sexual violence.

“These perpetrators are among us—teaching our children, working in our homes, leading in communities and churches,” Solomons explained. “We must name and shame them to prevent future harm.”

The government’s sudden shift has raised critical questions: Does the register even exist? Is it outdated? Or are names being deliberately withheld? BOSA insists that these delays are unacceptable.

“The Minister should have known the legal implications before making her promise,” Solomons stated. “We will not let this issue fade away. South Africans deserve answers.”

BOSA continues to urge citizens to join the fight. Their petition remains active on their website and social media platforms, while volunteers are going door-to-door collecting signatures.

With public safety at stake, the pressure is mounting. The question remains: Will the government honor its commitment, or will secrecy continue to stand in the way of justice?

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Annisa Essack and Roger Solomons.