Over 40 000 Gauteng Health workers were never screened for sex offences

By Mapaballo Borotho

The Gauteng Department of Health has admitted that it does not routinely screen employees against national sex offender and child protection registers.
More than 40 000 employees working with children may therefore have never been vetted, raising serious concerns about child safety in public healthcare facilities.
DA MPL Michael Waters has called for urgent compliance measures and a full audit of all child-facing positions.

The Gauteng Department of Health has admitted that it does not routinely vet all employees against the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) or the National Child Protection Register (NCPR) as part of its standard employment processes.

This means that more than 40 000 employees working with children have allegedly not been screened, raising serious concerns about child safety and patient protection across the province’s public health system.

Gauteng Health MEC Faith Mazibuko made the admission while responding to a question tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature by DA education spokesperson Michael Waters.

“The department failed to apply legally required child protection checks, meaning thousands of hospital staff working around children were never screened against the NRSO and NCPR,” Mazibuko’s response read.

However, Mazibuko clarified that the department relies on criminal background checks conducted through the 360 DOTS system and that no additional internal vetting or monitoring mechanisms have been implemented beyond this process.

“We will develop a system to ensure that all the staff members appointed and will be working with children are vetted in line with the applicable legislation,” she said.

Waters has called on the Gauteng Department of Health to urgently implement mandatory National Register for Sex Offenders and National Child Protection Register checks for all staff working with children.

He further demanded that the department audit all child-facing posts, disclose how many employees have never been screened, set a clear compliance timeline, and publicly report on corrective action taken.

“It is unacceptable that in 2026, one of South Africa’s largest provincial departments is effectively admitting that key child protection laws, including the Children’s Act and Sexual Offences Act, are not being properly implemented,” said Waters.