National
Dept of Social Development failing to register child offenders: SAHRC─── SABRINA DEAN 08:05 Thu, 17 Oct 2013
Sabrina Dean
Johannesburg - The SA Human Rights Commission says the Department of Social Development (DSD) is in violation of section 28 of the Bill of Rights due to its failure to register child offenders.
The Commission made the finding after investigating a complaint regarding the accuracy of the Child Protection Register (CPR).
Spokesperson Isaac Mangena says under the Children’s Act, the department is obliged to maintain and update the CPR to prevent offenders convicted of crimes against children to work or have contact with children.
Mangena says the commission found the DSD is under-resourced and court officials are not properly trained to enable the department to update the register.
Mangena says the commission found the DSD is under-resourced and court officials are not properly trained to enable the department to update the register.
The DSD has meanwhile denied receiving the Commission's report on the matter and has thus declined to comment.
Mangena has however rubbished this claim, saying the report was sent on Tuesday before the findings were made public yesterday.
Isaac Mangena :
