The National Register of Sex Offenders was promised to be made accessible to the public by the end of February. This promise followed a shocking revelation that over 16,000 teachers in South Africa have criminal records, including serious crimes like sexual offences and murder.

The tragic assault of 7-year-old Cwecwe at Bergview College has amplified the urgency for public access to this register. The children and women of South Africa are at risk in schools and public spaces while sexual predators remain unidentified. This is a national crisis that cannot wait any longer.

While we acknowledge the government's concerns about balancing privacy laws and the need for transparency, we demand that the Sex Offender Register be made accessible to the public as soon as possible. The government has stated that they are addressing privacy concerns and working on legislation to ensure a lawful release of the register. However, it is critical that this process is expedited. Public safety must come first.

We, the citizens of South Africa, call on the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development to:

• Provide clear communication about the timeline for when the public will have access to the National Sex Offender Register.
• Ensure that the register is made accessible as soon as legal and logistical barriers are resolved, with a clear roadmap for how public access will work.
• Guarantee the safety of our communities by implementing robust safeguards and checks while ensuring that the register serves its purpose of protecting women and children from sexual predators.

Our nation cannot afford further delay. We call for urgent action to make the National Sex Offender Register available to the public so that we can protect the most vulnerable members of society.