Official reply: 19 May 2010
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 1249
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
Date of publication on internal question paper: 26 April 2010
Internal question paper no 11
Mrs S P Kopane (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development:
(1) Whether the electronic integration system that is used to share
conviction information among the Departments of Justice and
Constitutional Development, Police and Social Development is fully
operational; if not, (a) why not and (b) when will it be fully
operational; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether she has put any mechanisms in place to fast-track the system;
if not, why not; if so, what mechanisms;
(3) whether her department informed the NGOs working with children of the
Child Protection Register and the National Register for Sex Offenders;
if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1408E
REPLY:
1) No,
(a) The Department of Social Development has developed an electronic
system for the capturing of information on convictions as part of the
Child Protection Register Part A and B. This is consistent in terms of
sections 111 and 112 of the Childrenâs Act (No. 38 of 2005). Sections
113 and 114 of the Act provides for the sharing of information amongst
the departments. The Departments of Justice and Constitutional
Development, South African Police Services, as well as Department of
Social Development, have developed individual systems in respect of
their legislative requirements. Despite the ongoing consultations,
the final integration of the electronic system will be completed
within eighteen (18) months as per the Childrenâs Act, as pointed out
recently to the Honourable Memberâs response to the same question
during debates in the National Assembly.
(b) Integration of systems can only be operational on the finalisation
of the Integrated Justice System (IJS). This system is managed by the
Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Until this
system is operational the information will be shared through a manual
system.
2) Yes, the Department of Social Development as part of the mechanisms to
fast track the system, has already submitted the system requirements
to the Departments of Justice and Constitutional Development and South
African Police Services, for the purpose of integration. The
department has also submitted a Memorandum of Understanding which is
currently receiving attention by the Department of Justice and
Constitutional Development for approval by the State Law Advisors. The
Memorandum of Understanding focuses on both the manual and electronic
integration systems for the sharing of information on convictions and
court outcomes among the departments. Additionally regular bi-lateral
meetings are held with the Department of Justice and Constitutional
Development on the implementation of both the above mentioned
registers.
3) Yes, the non-governmental organisations working with the children have
been informed about the Child Protection Register. The
nonâgovernmental organisations (NGOs) participate in the National
Child Protection Committee meetings and Child Protection forums, to
ensure that the legislation on children and the Child Protection
Register in particular, is properly implemented. The Department of
Justice and Constitutional Development is also part of the above
committees, where they get an opportunity to discuss the
implementation of the National Register for Sex Offenders with the non-
governmental organisations dealing with child protection issues.
Regulation 33 of the Childrenâs Act (No. 38 of 2005), as Amended,
obligates the department and the designated child protection
organisations to report cases of abuse to the Child Protection
Register. These reports are completed in prescribed Forms 22 and 23.
The designated child protection organisations have been reporting on
Part A of the Child Protection Register since 2004.
Source: DSD Welfare Services
End
[pic]