Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi has announced a list of convicted sexual offenders and Gender-based violence (GBV) perpetrators will be made public by the end of February.

The minister addressed the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation’s 365 Days Against GBV Awareness Campaign in Soweto on Tuesday. The campaign, which was adopted in 1998, is a year-round effort to end gender-based violence in the country.

Former president Kgalema Motlanthe attended the event alongside members of the community.

Almost two months since becoming Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Minister Kubayi has announced that South Africans will soon have access to a list of all sexual offenders and GBV perpetrators in an effort to curb femicide and keep parents more informed.

“As I got into the portfolio, one of the issues that has been reported was the need for us as a department to release the register, to make it public, for those who have been sentenced and convicted of gender-based violence, to protect our children. I have agreed that we will be able to release this, and my timeframe is before the end of February 2025, the register will be public,” says Kubayi.

The minister has noted the need for further work to be done in the legislation when it comes to delivering justice in cases of GBV.

“I just want to say we’re intending to upgrade 100 district courts to offer services that are custom-made for survivors of gender-based violence. This will assist us in terms of creating a conducive environment but having specialists in those courts that understand how to deal with a victim, how to deal with a family, provide support, provide counselling,” adds Kubayi.

The Foundation’s executive trustee, Gugu Motlanthe, echoed the call for drastic action in addressing the woes faced by South African Women daily.

“We are here to challenge the culture of impunity and shame that protects abusers. To women of the sports field and beyond, we all matter. Ending gender-based violence and abuse by powerful men is a societal responsibility. We call on leaders to prioritize this crisis with the urgency it demands.  allocate resources to shelters, hotlines, and legal aid.”