Public Access to National Sex Offender Register Set for Month-End

Posted on February 3, 2025
by Yashmika Dukaran


The National Register for Sex Offenders will be accessible to the public by the end of the month, marking a significant victory for advocacy groups that have long pushed for greater transparency.

The announcement follows a recent study revealing that over 16,000 teachers have criminal records, including offences ranging from sexual crimes to murder. The findings have intensified calls for stricter background checks in the education sector.

Juanita du Preez, spokesperson for Action Society, expressed surprise at the decision.

“The whole public will now be able to see the names of anyone who has been convicted of a sex crime,” she said. “Previously, individuals had to apply to check if someone was on the list, but now public access is unrestricted.”

The move is expected to bolster efforts in safeguarding vulnerable individuals while raising questions about the broader implications of open access to such records.