Sex offender register cannot be made public – department

The Department of Justice & Constitutional Development has warned against calls to make public the national register for sex offenders, claiming that while this would curb sexual offences against children, it would fuel mob justice against perpetrators. The department was responding to a campaign called #unmaskthemonsters launched by a civil rights organisation, Action Society, last month. According to a Pretoria News report, department spokesperson Steve Mahlangu said publicising the register could not be done without violating the right to privacy of an individual, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights. ‘There are also dangers of the register being used unjustifiably to fuel acts of mob justice against perpetrators. This is among a number of issues that make publicising the register a contentious and complicated discussion,’ Mahlangu said. He said the purpose of the register was to prevent recidivism by convicted sex offenders. ‘We believe that the continued usage of the register will go a long way in protecting the public, especially children and persons at high risk of sexual offences, such as persons with mental disabilities.’

Full Pretoria News report