Latest news with #RogerSolomons
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- General
- Eyewitness News
BOSA unhappy Justice Ministry won't grant it access to the National Register of Sex Offenders
JOHANNESBURG - Build One South Africa (BOSA) is displeased with the Justice Ministry's rejection of their request to gain access to the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO). The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, had committed to releasing the list in February this year but retracted, citing legal concerns. In response, the party submitted an application in the form of a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to the department, which grants individuals access to information held by public or private bodies. ALSO READ: BOSA says public sexual offenders list important for parents to protect children A day after Child Protection Week started last week on Friday, the Department of Justice wrote back to the political party rejecting their application for the release of the sex offenders list. BOSA initially made the application for the release of the list in March, calling for the protection of children against predators. The department says Section 52 of the Sexual Offences and Related Crimes Act says anyone found to have disclosed the contents of the NRSO can be fined or jailed for up to three years. BOSA spokesperson Roger Solomons says it is disappointing as the country keeps seeing a rise in the abuse of children. "As BOSA, we note with great frustration and anger the Justice Ministry's rejection of our Promotion of Access to Information Act, where we requested to gain access to this highly secretive register of sex offenders, which government is hellbent on keeping under wraps." He says there is public interest in the matter, which should trump privacy laws.
Mail & Guardian
03-06-2025
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
Only 0.1% of police officers checked for sexual offences
Build One South Africa (Bosa) has condemned the South African Police Service (SAPS) for what it describes as 'dangerous negligence' after a revelation that less than 0.14% of police officers have been screened against the National Register for Sex Offenders (Photo by Gallo Images / Phill Magakoe) Build One South Africa (Bosa) has condemned the South African Police Service (SAPS) for what it describes as 'dangerous negligence' after a revelation that less than 0.14% of police officers have been screened against the Responding to a This amounts to fewer than one in every 700 officers being vetted for possible sexual offences. The disclosure comes as South Africa continues to battle one of the world's highest rates of sexual violence. In the 2023-24 financial year alone, more than 42 700 'This lack of oversight is staggering and undermines any public trust in SAPS's ability to protect the most vulnerable,' Bosa spokesperson Roger Solomons said in a statement. 'When the very people tasked with enforcing the law are not properly vetted, we create fertile ground for abuse and impunity within the police service.' The concern over inadequate vetting comes as internal misconduct in the police service remains a worry. According to official figures, 2 108 police officers have been Bosa is demanding immediate and far-reaching reforms and the party has formally written to Mchunu, urging him to table a clear and time-bound plan to address the issue. This includes the urgent screening of all SAPS personnel — uniformed and civilian — within three months, as well as incorporating sexual offenders register checks into all future recruitment, promotion and disciplinary procedures. 'Bosa is also calling for a full public audit of all SAPS staff dismissed in the past five years to identify whether any were employed despite previous convictions for sexual offences,' Solomons said. 'Transparency and accountability must be prioritised if the police are to regain public trust.' The party further urged parliament and civil society organisations to take an active role in overseeing the implementation of these reforms, stressing that the existence of the 'At a time when South Africans — especially women and children — face epidemic levels of sexual violence, this kind of neglect is not just disappointing, it's dangerous,' Solomon said. Bosa has demanded that Mchunu report to parliament within 60 days on the progress in implementing NRSO screenings and broader vetting processes. 'The police should be the first line of defence against sexual violence, not a blind spot,' Solomon said. 'We need a clean, ethical and professional SAPS that the public can rely on to uphold the law, not ignore it.' The SAPS had not responded to queries from the Mail & Guardian by the time of publication. As of early 2025, the register contained over 32 000 names, with more than 10 000 additional cases pending court outcomes. Despite this, public access remains restricted because of confidentiality clauses in the Sexual Offences Act. Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi had initially promised to make the register public by February 2025 but later 'We have initiated a multi-stakeholder consultative process engaging key experts and institutions to facilitate compliance with the aim of releasing the register as soon as possible,' Kubayi said at the time. The register of sex offenders was established to track individuals convicted of sexual offences, particularly against vulnerable groups such as children and persons with mental disabilities. While not open to the public, it is accessible to employers who work with children or mentally disabled people, as well as government departments and institutions responsible for child protection. Employers are legally required to screen potential employees against the register before hiring them into such roles.
Eyewitness News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
BOSA rejects City of Cape Town's tariff increases
CAPE TOWN - Build One South Africa (BOSA) has rejected the City of Cape Town's tariff comes as the window for public comment on the proposed increases to rates and other services closes on party argues that extra costs will worsen the lives of Cape Town residents, particularly those living in low-income added that the tariff increases don't accommodate all citizens and their monthly political party handed over a copy of its submission to the mayor's office on Roger Solomons said the increase would cause more suffering."It's going to affect every Capetonian family very hard. It's an increase in the normal rates, there's an increase in water and sanitation, there's over 20% increase in electricity. Cape Town families are already struggling to put food on the table, pay for transport, school fees... it is utterly disgusting." Solomons said the public must have a chance to participate in these decisions.
IOL News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
BOSA urges government to protect school feeding schemes ahead of crucial budget speech
BOSA urges government not to cut a cent from school feeding schemes, warning that millions of children rely on these meals as their only source of daily nutrition. Build One South Africa (BOSA) has warned the government against making any cuts to school feeding schemes ahead of the national budget speech on May 21. The party emphasised that the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) is a vital lifeline for over nine million poor learners across the country, many of whom rely on it for their only guaranteed meal of the day. BOSA is calling on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to ring-fence and increase funding for the programme. It also raised concerns about corruption, red tape, and financial mismanagement undermining delivery in multiple provinces. 'We call on Minister Enoch Godongwana to ring-fence and look to increase funding for school feeding schemes. ''In addition, we must ensure that red tape, corruption, and fiscal pressure does not rob children of their basic right to nutrition as has been the case in at least three provinces,' said BOSA acting spokesperson Roger Solomons.
IOL News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
BOSA calls on Finance Minister to protect school feeding schemes in upcoming Budget
The National School Nutrition Programme is a vital lifeline for over 9 million poor learners across the country. As the countdown to the national budget speech on 21 May begins, Build One South Africa (BOSA) makes its first and urgent appeal to the Minister of Finance: Do not cut a single cent from school feeding schemes. The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) is a vital lifeline for over 9 million poor learners across the country. In many cases, the meal provided at school is the only guaranteed meal a child receives in a day. We call on Minister Enoch Godongwana to ring-fence and look to increase funding for school feeding schemes. In addition, we must ensure that red tape, corruption, and fiscal pressure do not rob children of their basic right to nutrition, as has been the case in at least three provinces. Across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, the Northern Cape and the Western Cape, food delivery to schools has been disrupted by a toxic mix of unpaid suppliers, contested tenders, and budget constraints. Learners are already going hungry, and the situation is deteriorating. In KwaZulu-Natal, many service providers have not been paid for March and April 2025. This follows last year's R2 billion tender scandal that led to rotten food and over 5,400 schools without meals. In Gauteng, more than 1 million learners were affected by delays in finalising a new NSNP contract in 2024. Legal wrangling over tenders continues to undermine meal delivery, with teachers reporting empty plates and hungry children, especially during winter. In the Northern Cape, a looming R358 million education budget shortfall threatens future delivery, despite the province's effort to decentralise procurement. And in the Western Cape, while feeding continues, a R3.8 billion staffing shortfall and a 21% vacancy rate in education posts signal dangerous fiscal strain. Any government that allows children to go hungry while billions are spent on ministerial perks and luxury motorcades has lost its way. BOSA rejects any budget that sacrifices the health and dignity of poor children for the sake of austerity or patronage. Roger Solomons - BOSA Acting Spokesperson
