By: Zilungile Mkhize
Build One South Africa (BOSA) has called on newly appointed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to urgently vet all South African Police Service (SAPS) personnel against the National Register for Sex Offenders within the next three months.
The demand follows the shocking revelation that fewer than 0.14% of SAPS officers have been screened against the register, a critical tool meant to prevent convicted sex offenders from working in positions of trust, particularly involving vulnerable individuals.
BOSA spokesperson Roger Solomons said the situation underscores a dangerous gap in oversight and threatens public confidence in the police.
“Without comprehensive vetting, especially amid South Africa’s ongoing crisis of gender-based violence and sexual crimes, it is impossible for the public to place trust in the police service,” Solomons stated.
The party is also calling for a full-scale audit of both current and former SAPS personnel to identify any officers who may have prior convictions for sexual offences or are listed on the register.
“This is not merely a policy issue; it’s a matter of public safety and moral responsibility,” added Solomons.
The National Register for Sex Offenders, maintained by the Department of Justice, is intended to serve as a safeguard against the employment of sex offenders in institutions that care for or interact with children and other vulnerable groups. However, concerns have been raised for years about the underutilisation and lack of enforcement of vetting protocols across various government departments.
Minister Mchunu, who assumed the police portfolio following a recent Cabinet reshuffle, has yet to respond publicly to BOSA’s demands.
