BOSA unhappy Justice Ministry won’t grant it access to the National Register of Sex Offenders
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, had committed to releasing the list in February this year but retracted, citing legal concerns.
JOHANNESBURG - Build One South Africa (BOSA) is displeased with the Justice Ministry’s rejection of their request to gain access to the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO).
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, had committed to releasing the list in February this year but retracted, citing legal concerns.
In response, the party submitted an application in the form of a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to the department, which grants individuals access to information held by public or private bodies.
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A day after Child Protection Week started last week on Friday, the Department of Justice wrote back to the political party rejecting their application for the release of the sex offenders list.
BOSA initially made the application for the release of the list in March, calling for the protection of children against predators.
The department says Section 52 of the Sexual Offences and Related Crimes Act says anyone found to have disclosed the contents of the NRSO can be fined or jailed for up to three years.
BOSA spokesperson Roger Solomons says it is disappointing as the country keeps seeing a rise in the abuse of children.
"As BOSA, we note with great frustration and anger the Justice Ministry's rejection of our Promotion of Access to Information Act, where we requested to gain access to this highly secretive register of sex offenders, which government is hellbent on keeping under wraps."
He says there is public interest in the matter, which should trump privacy laws.