BOSA says sex offender’s list would act as a preventative measure for GBV and sexual crimes

JOHANNESBURG - Build One South Africa (BOSA) says a sex offender’s list would act as a preventative measure for gender-based violence and sexual crimes.

The party held a silent protest on Friday at the University of Johannesburg Soweto Campus where Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi was participating in an event.

Kubayi had promised to release the sex offenders list today, however, she says issues with the country’s privacy legislation have prevented this.

In 1994, an American toddler by the name of Megan Kanka was raped and killed by her neighbour, a convicted sexual offender.

The following year, Megan’s Law was established, a law requiring all law enforcement agencies to publicly share details of registered sex offenders.

BOSA deputy leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster says a South African version of Megan’s law is badly needed in the country.

“The importance of a list is that it is a measure that can be preventative in that it can deter people from committing these offences because the idea that for a certain period, it will be publicly known you are someone who violated in that way, it is a deterrent.”

BOSA says it's willing to work with any party in parliament to develop legislation that would allow for the public release of the sexual offenders list.