09 Jul 2020

 Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security Ms Matshediso Bokole says sex offenders’ bill of 2020 will make provision for registration of convicted sexual offenders and drafting is expected to be finalised by July 31, 2020.

Presenting the bill at Ntlo Ya Dikgosi on Wednesday,  Ms Bokole noted that the details of those convicted of specified sexual offences would be recorded and offenders would be monitored to enable authorities to keep track of them.

She also said those listed on the register would be prohibited from working with children or the mentally disabled and from adopting children or even acting as foster parents.

Ms Bokole further said employers in public or private sectors would need to check that people they hired did not appear in the register and it would apply to people who want to be teachers, health professionals and social workers.

“Clearance certificate will be issued by an officer designated by the minister in consultation with commissioner of police and also there will be provision for post-supervision release frame work to ensure rehabilitation of offender, and the post release order must require him to receive psychological counselling” she said.

Ms Bokole said the bill created a national framework for development of policy direction and guidance on matters of sexual offences and established a national committee that would report to government and National Assembly.

When commenting on the bill Kgosi Mosadi Seboko indicated that sexual related offences gave them sleepless nights and they would be grateful as Ntlo ya Dikgosi for the bill to be reverted to them after being finalised so that they could appreciate their input. 

For his part Kgosi Kgosidialwa Moalosi said counselling for sex offenders must be intensified to curb the crime, saying already prisons were overcrowded. BOPA