Question NW1038 to the Minister of Basic Education
06 June 2017 - NW1038
Stander, Ms T to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)(a)(i) On which dates and (ii) to whom has her department applied to obtain a copy of the National Register for Sex Offenders and (b) what was the response to each request; (2) whether her department has received the specified document; if not, (a) how does the absence of the document impede her department’s plans and (b) how does this impact on the wellbeing and/or safety of learners in schools; if so, how will possession of the document assist her department?
Reply:
1. (a)(i),(ii) and (b) The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has never applied to obtain a copy of the National Register for Sex Offenders.
2. In terms of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, Act 32 of 2007, only employers offering services which allow for access to children such as schools and crèches must, before employing a person, establish from the Registrar of the Sex Offenders Register whether or not the potential employee’s name is on the National Register for Sex Offenders. Based on this statement, the employer of educators employed at the school level is the Head of the Provincial Education Department and it is therefore the responsibility of the Head of the Provincial Education Department to do so.
(a) and (b) are not applicable to the DBE based on the above response.