- Vusimizi Nyembe, 49, stands accused of raping an 11-year-old child and is also alleged to have been involved in two similar previous cases.
- Not In My Name International says this case reveals serious gaps in how repeat sexual offenders are tracked.
- The organisation is now calling for the National Register for Sex Offenders to be opened up for public access.
The case against Vusimizi Nyembe, 49, has reignited calls for South Africa to make the National Register for Sex Offenders accessible to everyone.
Nyembe appeared in the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court on a charge of raping an 11-year-old child. According to Not In My Name International, he is also suspected of being linked to two previous cases, raising concerns about how authorities identify, monitor and prevent repeat sexual offenders from harming more children.
The organisation says the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence and child sexual abuse requires a comprehensive response, with prevention as a top priority.
Why the register matters
The National Register for Sex Offenders was set up by an Act of Parliament in 2007 as a record of people found guilty of sexual offences against children and people with mental disabilities.
Employers in both the public and private sectors, including schools, crèches and hospitals, use the register to check if a potential employee is legally allowed to work with vulnerable people.
Despite this, the register is not open to the public. It is kept confidential, and anyone convicted of a qualifying sexual offence against a child or a person with a mental disability is included in the register.
Communities left in the dark
Not In My Name International argues that limiting access to institutions leaves parents, caregivers and community organisations without the information they need to keep children safe.
The organisation says the current system creates blind spots in neighbourhoods, playgrounds, after-school programmes and informal childcare settings where children are in contact with adults outside of formal employment environments.
According to the organisation, allowing full public access would help turn community concern into real action for child protection, as it would enable residents to identify convicted offenders and take lawful precautions.
Call for legislative reform
Not In My Name International says keeping the identities of convicted sex offenders confidential ends up protecting perpetrators instead of victims.
The organisation believes the main goal of the register should be to prevent future abuse. It is urging Parliament to change the law so that the National Register for Sex Offenders is freely accessible to the public, all in the interests of keeping children safe.
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