Based on the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007, as extended by the 2021 Amendment Act, the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) in South Africa protects several groups defined as "vulnerable".
Key vulnerable groups defined in the register include:
Children: Individuals under 18.
Mental/Physical Disabilities: Persons with long-term mental impairments, or physical/intellectual/sensory disabilities receiving care in specialized facilities (excluding care from family).
Specific Young Women: Females under 25 in higher education, vocational training, or student residences.
Older Persons: Individuals 60+ receiving community-based care.
Victims in Care: Individuals housed in facilities for victims of crime.
Originally the focus was only on those who cared for, or, worked with children (e.g. in schools, ECD’s, creche’s, sports clubs, religious institutions, child care centres, etc. and all other spaces which children may frequent from time to time).
In 2021 the law was extended to include various other vulnerable groups as outlined above. This means that all persons who will be working with or near these vulnerable persons, MUST be screened against the National Register for Sex Offenders.
We encourage those who may not have followed this screening process, as yet, to contact us for more information, or, to scan this website for full details as to how you can become compliant with this law through appropriate vetting and screening - for the safety of the vulnerable persons in your care.
Thank you.
References :
https://www.justice.gov.za/vg/nrso.html
https://www.justice.gov.za/jt/jt-202210.html
https://www.fasken.com/en/knowledge/2025/03/nrso-to-be-made-public