Minister Pieter Groenewald Bemoans Budget Cuts to the Correctional Services Department
- The Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, slammed the budget cuts on his department
- He said the cuts are making it difficult to feed prisoners adequately, their security and monitor parolees
- South Africans compared the lives of prisoners and those outside of prison, and some opined that the prisoners are more privileged
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With over seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News, Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist, offered insights into South African politics, national, provincial and local governance, political parties and election dynamics.
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JOHANNESBURG—The Department of Correctional Services' budget has been cut by over R2 billion, and Minister Pieter Groenewald is not happy.
Groenewald slams budget cuts
Groenewald was speaking during his department's budget vote in Parliament this week in Cape Town. According to SowetanLIVE, the department has been allocated R87 billion for the next three years.
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Groenewald believed that the budget cuts affected security, nutrition, and monitoring parolees. He said that the department also faces other challenges, including overcrowded people, falling infrastructure, crime syndicates, and gangs in prison. He added that the department needs to prioritise rooting out corruption, inefficiency, and ill-discipline. Outsourcing also has to be reduced.
South Africans discuss prison life
Netiznes on Facebook shared their views on life in prison.
Patrick Mashego said:
"Prison is a hotel. There's no need for perfect food, blankets and others."
Bongangi Mgubela said:
"Prisoners eat meat every day, while some law-abiding citizens can go for a month or so without even smelling it."
Uplifted Amukelani Isaac said:
"I hate this political grandstanding. You just arrived, and you already know what the correct budget should be."
Koloba Fortune said:
"Prisoners need to feel the pain we're going through as taxpayers."
Ntityiso Fela said:
"I'm yet to read of budget cuts for parliament."
Pieter Groenewald plans to introduce agriculture in prison
In a similar article, Briefly News reported that Groenewald said he is investigating how to ensure prisoners produce their own food.
He spoke after he was announced as the new correctional services minister, and many in the country agreed with him.
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Source: Briefly News
