Action Society has launched a campaign urging parents across South Africa to demand the immediate publication of the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO), as pressure intensifies on government to make the database publicly accessible. 

The NRSO was established to prevent individuals convicted of sexual offences from working with children and vulnerable persons. However, despite assertions by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, that it would be made public, the register remains inaccessible to the public. 

“Parents are expected to trust that the system is working, but they are denied access to information that could directly affect their child’s safety,” said Juanita du Preez, National Spokesperson for Action Society. 

According to Action Society, more than 26,000 sexual offences against children are reported annually in South Africa, with most perpetrators known to their victims. These crimes often occur in trusted environments such as homes, schools and community spaces. 

“What concerns us is that the risk to children is often not outside their daily lives, but within it. Parents are making decisions about schools, caregivers, and activities without access to information that could help them assess that risk,” said du Preez.  

The organisation is now calling on parents to send formal letters to Minister Kubayi requesting urgent access to the register. Interested parties take part via Action Society’s website. 

“No parent is asking for unnecessary information. They are asking for the ability to make informed decisions about their children’s safety.” 

The organisation has also filed a request under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), seeking clarity on the register’s status, accuracy and availability. 

It is further demanding transparency around the contents and maintenance of the register.  

“If the register is not complete or not up to date, that is something the public needs to know… The only way this changes is if enough people speak up,” du Preez says.

ALSO READ: Hawks Arrest Suspect in Child Trafficking and Sexual Assault Case – Smile 90.4FM

DignitySA has approached the North Gauteng High Court to initiate a legal process aimed at decriminalising and legalising assisted dying.

The organisation says this constitutional challenge is the culmination of 15 years of advocacy for the right of South Africans to choose a dignified end when facing intractable and unbearable suffering.

The application seeks to declare the current common-law prohibition of assisted dying unconstitutional and invalid.

DignitySA defines “assisted dying” as a medically assisted death that is either self-administered or doctor-administered, strictly governed by eligibility criteria and robust safeguards.

The case is built on the fundamental rights enshrined in the South African Constitution, specifically the rights to human dignity, bodily autonomy, life and freedom.

Chairperson and co-founder of DignitySA, Willem Landman, says they are asking the court to recognise that a person’s human dignity is severely diminished when they lose control over the manner of their dying.

DignitySA seeks to ensure that any person meeting strict criteria – including being mentally competent, suffering from an irremediable condition, and making a voluntary request – can access medical assistance in dying.

The organisation says the challenge follows years of legal preparation and is bolstered by the support of prominent medical professionals who argue that assisted dying, responsibly practised, conforms to the core principles of medical ethics.

To sign DignitySA’s petition, click HERE.

PRASA Western Cape says it will deploy additional train services across the Cape Town rail network this weekend to support the thousands of runners, spectators, and commuters attending the Two Oceans Marathon on Saturday, 11 April and Sunday, 12 April 2026.

More than 30,000 athletes are expected to descend on the Mother City this weekend.

Additional trains – Saturday 11 April

Additional trains will operate across all lines during the morning peak period to
accommodate the anticipated surge in passenger volumes.

Once the morning peak subsides, services will resume their regular schedule for the remainder of the day.

Sunday, 12 April – Marathon Day Services

A dedicated limited service will run on Sunday to serve both spectators heading to the
route and commuters travelling across the city.

This targeted deployment is designed to ease road congestion and ensure efficient movement throughout Cape Town during the event.

Following the marathon, additional trains will operate on all lines to manage the post-event
passenger surge. Those travelling are urged to arrive early at their nearest station to avoid platform congestion.

Park & Ride – Secure Parking at Key Stations

To make rail travel as accessible as possible, PRASA WC will provide Park & Ride facilities with 24-hour security at selected stations. Commuters and supporters can park safely and complete their journey by train, reducing pressure on the road network and improving safety for all.

Southern Line (Cape Town – Fish Hoek):

• Kenilworth – Public parking opposite the station
• Heathfield – PRASA secure parking
• Lakeside – PRASA secure parking
• False Bay – PRASA secure parking
• Fish Hoek – Public parking opposite the station and at the beach

Northern Line:

• Strand
• Eerste River
• Kuils River
• Brackenfell
• Kraaifontein
• Bellville
• Tygerberg
• Vasco

Commuters have been advised to arrive early to secure parking and allow adequate travel
time.

PRASA WC Protection Services will work in close partnership with law enforcement agencies to maintain heightened security at all stations and parking areas throughout the weekend.

Tickets Available at the Marathon Expo

Train tickets will also be on sale at the CTICC during the Two Oceans Marathon Expo from
Wednesday, 8 April to Saturday, 11 April 2026.

Commuters are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to avoid queues on race day.

Timetables and real-time service updates will be shared across PRASA WC’s official channels on X and Facebook throughout the weekend.

Another murder has taken place in Delft within 24 hours.  

A 58-year-old woman was shot and killed in a home on Silversands Road in Leiden on Thursday night, at around 20:30.  

“Police members attended to the crime scene where they found the victim in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to her head,” read the police statement on the incident, noting that she was declared deceased on the scene.

Witnesses tell police that two suspects were seen fleeing the house after the shooting. Western Cape police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said they fled with money and cellphones.  

“According to reports two unknown suspects entered the house and shot the victim. The suspects fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash, and cellular telephones,” said Twigg.  

While locals claim the incident may be related to extortion, Twigg did not confirm this, noting that the investigation into the motive and murder is still ongoing. 

Just a day earlier, an off-duty soldier with South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was gunned down in Delft South. 

The soldier was killed on Kokerboom Road at around 22:20 on Wednesday, roughly three kilometres from the previously mentioned crime scene. 

“Officers found a 37-year-old male who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was declared deceased on the scene,” said Twigg.  

Detectives have not revealed what they suspect to be the motive for his murder, with even local crime fighters mum on the incident. The circumstances are being investigated.  

Twigg has, however, clarified that the soldier was not affiliated with the current SANDF deployment in the Western Cape under Operation Prosper, which is aimed at stabilising high-crime and gang-affected communities, including Delft. 

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased is a member of the SANDF who was off duty at the time of the incident and has no link to Operation Prosper,” said Twigg.  

No arrests have been made in either case, with both investigations ongoing.