# Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007/Chapter 6

Chapter 6
National Register for Sex Offenders
Definitions
40. For purposes of this Chapter, and unless the context indicates otherwise—
“certificate” means a certificate contemplated in section 44;
“employee” means—
(a)
(b)
“employer” means—
(a)
(i)
(ii)
which—
(aa)
(bb)
(b)
(i)
(ii)
and “employ”, “employing”, “employed” and “employment relationship” have corresponding meanings;
“licensing authority” means any authority which is responsible for granting licences or approving the management or operation of any entity, business concern or trade relating to the supervision over or care of a child or a person who is mentally disabled;
“Register” means the National Register for Sex Offenders established under section 42(1);
“Registrar” means the Registrar of the National Register for Sex Offenders contemplated in section 42(2); and
“relevant authority” means any—
(a)
(b)
which is tasked with considering applications from prospective foster parents, kinship care-givers, temporary safe care-givers, adoptive parents or curators.
Prohibition on certain types of employment by certain persons who have committed sexual offences against children and persons who are mentally disabled
41. (1) A person who has been convicted of the commission of a sexual offence against a child or is alleged to have committed a sexual offence against a child and has been dealt with in terms of section 77(6) or 78(6) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, whether committed before or after the commencement of this Chapter, whether committed in or outside the Republic, and whose particulars have been included in the Register, may not—
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(2) A person who has been convicted of the commission of a sexual offence against a person who is mentally disabled or is alleged to have committed a sexual offence against a person who is mentally disabled and has been dealt with in terms of section 77(6) or 78(6) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, whether committed before or after the commencement of this Chapter, whether committed in or outside the Republic, and whose particulars have been included in the Register, may not—
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Establishment of National Register for Sex Offenders and designation of Registrar of Register
42. (1) A National Register for Sex Offenders containing particulars of persons convicted of any sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled or are alleged to have committed a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled and who have been dealt with in terms of section 77(6) or 78(6) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, whether committed before or after the commencement of this Chapter and whether committed in or outside the Republic, must, within six months after the commencement of this Chapter, and, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and the regulations made thereunder, be established and maintained by the Minister.
(2) The Minister must designate a fit and proper person, with due regard to his or her experience, conscientiousness and integrity, as the Registrar of the National Register for Sex Offenders.
(3) The Registrar must exercise and perform his or her powers, duties and functions subject to the provisions of this Chapter and the regulations made thereunder.
Objects of Register
43. The objects of the Register are to protect children and persons who are mentally disabled against sexual offenders by—
(a)
(i)
(ii)
(aa)
(bb)
country in question;
(b)
(c)
(d)
Persons entitled to apply for certificate
44. An application for a prescribed certificate, stating whether or not the particulars of a person mentioned in the application are recorded in the Register may, solely for the purpose of complying with any obligation under this Chapter, be made in the prescribed manner by—
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
Obligations of employers in respect of employees
45. (1) Any employer who—
(a)
(b)
(2) (a) An employer shall—
(i)
(ii)
whose particulars are recorded in the Register.
(b) An employer who, during the course of an employment relationship, ascertains that the particulars of an employee contemplated in subsection (1)(a) has been recorded in the Register, irrespective of whether such offence was committed during the course of his or her employment, must, subject to paragraph (d) immediately terminate the employment of such employee.
(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (d) an employer must immediately terminate the employment of an employee who fails to disclose a conviction of a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled or that he or she is alleged to have committed a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled and who ​has been dealt with in terms of section 77(6) or 78(6) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, as contemplated in section 41.
(d) An employer must take reasonable steps to prevent an employee whose particulars are recorded in the Register from continuing to gain access to a child or a person who is mentally disabled, in the course of his or her employment, including, if reasonably possible or practicable to transfer such person from the post or position occupied by him or her to another post or position: Provided that if any such steps to be taken will not ensure the safety of a child or a person who is mentally disabled, the employment relationship, the use of services or access, as the case may be, must be terminated immediately.
(3) An employer who fails to comply with any provision of this section, is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding seven years or to both a fine and such imprisonment.
Obligations of employees
46. (1) An employee in the employ of an employer at the commencement of this Chapter, who is or was convicted of a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled, or is alleged to have committed a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled and who has been dealt with in terms of section 77(6) or 78(6) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, irrespective of whether or not such offence was committed or allegedly committed during the course of his or her employment, and whose particulars are included or are to be included in the Register, must without delay disclose such conviction or finding to his or her employer.
(2) An employee who, after the commencement of this Chapter, applies for employment, must, if he or she has been convicted of a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled or is alleged to have committed a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled and who has been dealt with in terms of section 77(6) or 78(6) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, and whose particulars are included or are to be included in the Register, disclose such conviction or finding when applying for employment.
(3) An employee who fails to comply with subsection (1) or (2), is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment not exceeding seven years or to both a fine and such imprisonment.
Obligations in respect of licence applications
47. (1) A licensing authority may not grant a licence to or approve the management or operation of any entity, business concern or trade in relation to the supervision over or care of a child or a person who is mentally disabled without having determined, by way of an application to the Registrar for a prescribed certificate, whether or not the particulars of such person have been recorded in the Register.
(2) A person who, after the commencement of this Chapter, applies for a licence contemplated in subsection (1) to a licensing authority, and whose particulars are included or are to be included in the Register, must disclose that he or she has been convicted of a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled or that he or she is alleged to have committed a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled and has been dealt with in terms of section 77(6) or 78(6) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977.
(3) Any licensing authority or person who intentionally contravenes any provision of this section, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding seven years or to both a fine and such imprisonment.
Obligations in respect of applications for fostering, kinship care-giving, temporary safe care-giving, adoption of children or curatorship
48. (1) A relevant authority may not consider an application or approve the appointment of a person as a foster parent, kinship care-giver, temporary safe care-giver, an adoptive parent or curator without having determined, by way of an application to the Registrar for a prescribed certificate, whether or not the particulars of such person have been recorded in the Register.
(2) A person who, after the commencement of this Chapter, applies to become a foster parent, kinship care-giver, temporary safe care-giver, an adoptive parent or a curator, and whose particulars are included or are to be included in the Register, must disclose that he or she has been convicted of a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled or that he or she is alleged to have committed a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled and has been dealt with in terms of section 77(6) or 78(6) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977.
(3) Any relevant authority or person who intentionally contravenes any provision of this section, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding seven years or to both a fine and such imprisonment.
​Contents of Register
49. The Register must—
(a)
(b)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(c)
Persons whose names must be included in Register and related matters
50. (1) The particulars of the following persons must be included in the Register:
(a)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
imprisonment for such offence; and
(b)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
whether committed before or after the commencement of this Chapter.
(2) (a) A court that has in terms of this Act or any other law—
(i)
(ii)
must, subject to paragraph (c), make an order that the particulars of the person be included in the Register.
(b) When making an order contemplated in paragraph (a), the court must explain the contents and implications of such an order, including section 45, to the person in question.
(c) If a court has, in terms of this Act or any other law, convicted a person (“A”) of a sexual offence referred to in paragraph (a)(i) and A was a child at the time of the commission of such offence, or if a court has made a ﬁnding and given a direction referred to in paragraph (a)(ii) in respect of A who was a child at the time of the alleged commission of the offence, the court may not make an order as contemplated in paragraph (a) unless—
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(d) In the event that a court ﬁnds that substantial and compelling circumstances exist which justify the making of an order as contemplated in paragraph (a), the court must enter such circumstances on the record of the proceedings.
(3) Where a court has made an order under subsection (2)(a), the Registrar of the High Court or clerk of the magistrate's court must, where possible notify the employer in the prescribed manner, of such order and must forthwith forward the order to the Registrar, together with all the particulars referred to in section 49 of the person in question, and the Registrar must immediately and provisionally, in the prescribed manner, enter the particulars of the person concerned in the Register, pending the outcome of any appeal or review and must, after—
(a)
(b)
either enter or remove such particulars from the Register, depending on the outcome of the appeal or review, if any.
(4) Where a court, for whatever reason, fails to make an order under subsection (2)(a), in respect of any person other than a person referred to in subsection (2)(c), the prosecuting authority or any person must immediately or at any other time bring this omission to the attention of the court and the court must make such order.
(5) (a) The National Commissioner of Correctional Services must, in the prescribed manner and at least three months before the establishment of the Register referred to in section 42, forward to the Registrar the particulars referred to in section 49 of every prisoner or former prisoner which he or she has on record, who, at the commencement of this Chapter, is serving a sentence of imprisonment or who has served a sentence of imprisonment as the result of a conviction for a sexual offence against a child, including an offence referred to in section 14 of the Sexual Offences Act, 1957 (Act No. 23 of 1957), and must, where possible, forward the available particulars of every prisoner or former prisoner which he or she has on record, who at the commencement of this Chapter, is serving a sentence of imprisonment or has served a sentence of imprisonment as a result of a conviction for a sexual offence against a person who is mentally disabled, including an offence referred to in section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act, 1957, and the Registrar must forthwith enter those particulars in the Register.
(b) The National Commissioner of Correctional Services must, in the prescribed manner and period, inform each serving prisoner whose particulars have been forwarded to the Registrar of the implications thereof.
(6) The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service must, in the prescribed manner and at least three months before the establishment of the Register referred to in section 42, forward to the Registrar all the available particulars in his or her possession referred to in section 49 of every person, who, at the commencement of this Chapter, has a previous conviction for a sexual offence against a child, including, as far as is possible, an offence referred to in section 14 of the Sexual Offences Act, 1957, and who has a previous conviction for a sexual offence against a person who is mentally disabled, including, as far as is possible, an offence referred to in section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act, 1957, and the Registrar must forthwith enter those particulars in the Register.
(7) (a) The Director-General: Health must, in the prescribed manner and at least three months before the establishment of the Register referred to in section 42, forward to the Registrar the particulars referred to in section 49 of every person, who, at the commencement of this Chapter, is subject to a direction in terms of section 77(6) or 78(6) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, as the result of an act which constituted a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled and the Registrar must forthwith enter those particulars in the Register.
(b) The Director-General: Health must, in the prescribed manner and period, inform each person referred to in paragraph (a) whose particulars have been forwarded to the Registrar of the implications thereof.
(8) (a) A person whose particulars have been submitted to the Registrar in terms of this section and whose name or names, sex, identity number, physical or postal address or other details as contemplated in section 49 have changed, must notify the Registrar of any such change within 14 days after such change.
(b) Any person referred to in paragraph (a) who intentionally fails to notify the Registrar of any change contemplated in that paragraph, is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding seven years.
Removal of particulars from Register
51. (1) Subject to subsections (2), (2A) and (3), the particulars of a person—
(a)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(b)
(2) The particulars of a person who has—
(a)
(b)
may not be removed from the Register.
(2A) A person falling into the categories contemplated in subsection (1), who was a child at the time of the commission of the offence concerned and who was convicted of such offence or a person who was a child at the time of the alleged commission of the offence and in respect of whom a court has made a ﬁnding and given a direction in terms of section 77(6) or 78(6) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977—
(a)
(i)
(ii)
(b)
(i)
(ii)
(3) (a) A person falling into the categories contemplated in subsection (1) may apply, in the prescribed manner, to the Registrar to have his or her particulars removed from the Register.
(b) The Registrar must, after considering the application, remove the particulars of the person contemplated in paragraph (a) from the Register, unless the person concerned has an investigation or a charge relating to a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled pending against him or her and the relevant investigation or case has not yet been finalised, in which event the finalisation of the application must be postponed until the Registrar has, in the prescribed manner, received information on the outcome of the investigation or case.
(c) The Registrar may, at the request of a person whose particulars are included in the Register, remove those particulars from the Register if the Registrar is satisfied that the entry of those particulars in the Register was clearly in error.
​Confidentiality and disclosure of information
52. (1) The Registrar and any other person who assists the Registrar in the exercise and performance of his or her powers, duties and functions may not disclose any information which he or she has acquired in the exercise of the powers, performance of the functions or carrying out of the duties conferred upon, assigned to or imposed upon him or her under this Chapter, except—
(a)
(b)
(2) Except in so far as it may be necessary for the purposes of this Chapter, the Registrar and any other person who assists the Registrar in the exercise and performance of his or her powers, duties and functions, who willfully discloses any information to any other person, is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years or to both a fine and such imprisonment.
(3) Any person who discloses any information which he or she has acquired in the exercise of the powers, performance of the functions or carrying out of the duties conferred upon, assigned to or imposed upon him or her under this Chapter, except—
(a)
(b)
is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years or to both a fine and such imprisonment.
(4) Except in so far as it may be necessary for the purposes of this Chapter, any person who willfully discloses or publishes any information to any other person which he or she has acquired as a result of an application contemplated in section 44 or in any other manner, is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years or to both a fine and such imprisonment.
Regulations pertaining to Register
53. (1) The Minister must, after consultation with the cabinet members responsible for safety and security, correctional services, social development and health, if applicable, make regulations relating to—
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
(o)
(2) The provisions of this Chapter shall apply with the necessary changes to the category of employers and employees in their employment from the date of publication of the regulations contemplated in subsection (l)(k).
(3) Regulations made in terms of subsection (1) may, in respect of any contravention thereof or failure to comply therewith, prescribe as a penalty a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months.
(4) Any regulation made in terms of this section must be submitted to Parliament at least 30 days before publication thereof in the Gazette.