Sexual Offences Act

/ 29 March 2023

Rape law challenge driven by emotion, ego – justice ministry

The department is opposing a bid to declare unconstitutional the defence a rape accused can use — that they believed the victim had consented

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By Emsie Ferreira

National

/ 22 January 2023

Anti-trafficking, human rights groups to reject amended sex trade bill

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill will boost the industry and trafficking and drive it underground

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By Eunice Masson

Opinion

/ 27 December 2022

Legalising sex work is not a moral issue, it’s a human rights issue

A new bill that seeks to decriminalise sex work is now open for public comment

By Zoya Pon

National

/ 25 November 2022

Nonprofit takes Ramaphosa’s government to court over Sexual Offences Act amendments

The group says the amended law ‘further victimises rape victims and survivors by protecting perpetrators based on their unreasonable states of mind’

By Eunice Masson

Opinion

/ 13 October 2022

Ten reasons why South Africa must decriminalise sex work

Aside from the economic benefits, urgent decriminalisation is needed to ensure constitutional rights of the country’s estimated 153 000 sex workers

By Karabo Mokgonyana

National

/ 30 March 2022

Commission proposes tightening South African laws to protect child pornography victims

The South African Law Reform Commission has also called on police to fast-track the establishment of a victim identification database, and link it to Interpol

By Lyse Comins

Education

/ 9 August 2020

Teachers having sexual relationships with learners is illegal

The Sexual Offences Act criminalises sex with a person under the age of 16 by a person over the age of 18

By Bongekile Macupe

Article

/ 24 May 2019

Church hid pastor’s abuse, says dad

Survivors, including the abuser’s niece, accuse the Seventh Day Adventist Church of putting its needs ahead of the girls

By Carl Collison

Article

/ 25 January 2019

Immorality Act stripped to its essence

An exhibition of essays explores the sexual politics that emerged from an oppressive era

By Staff Reporter

Videos

/ 3 May 2018

[WATCH] What is compelled rape?

Sonke Gender Justice’s Ariane Nevin explains the difference between rape and compelled rape and how the law treats it.

By Mia Malan and Dylan Bush

Article

/ 26 May 2017

#FrankelCase: Constitutional court rules there’s no expiry date on sexual offenses

A court ruling has lifted the time limit on reporting sexual assault. Prior to the ruling, we asked survivors how such a ruling would impact them.

By Pontsho Pilane and Carl Collison

Article

/ 25 March 2015

Chiefs oppose moves to decriminalise sex between teenagers

Traditional leaders believe the proposed changes to the sexual offences Act will take South Africa to the time of Sodom and Gomorrah.

By Thulani Gqirana

Article

/ 3 March 2015

Concern over legal loophole for child pornographers

Proposed amendments to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Act have raised the ire of Christian-based organisations.

By Thulani Gqirana

Article

/ 6 May 2014

Concourt strikes down Sexual Offences Act section

The Concourt has declared a section of the Sexual Offences Act, which deals with someone convicted of an offence against a child, unconstitutional.

By Sapa

Article

/ 6 February 2014

Concourt to hear Sexual Offences Act case

An application for the confirmation of a high court order declaring parts of the Act unconstitutional will be scrutinised at the Constitutional Court.

By Sapa