WATCH | Minister Groenewald concerned over department budget cuts

Groenewald

Cape Town — Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, has expressed concern that his department now has R2.5 billion less to work with for the upcoming financial year.

Groenewald gave his first speech as minister on Monday and was disappointed that his department received less funding for the next few years.

He said that the country experiencing insufficient economic growth, a budget deficit and an unsustainable government debt burden necessitated budget cuts, including the department’s baseline being cut by R2.525 billion, TimesLIVE reported.

Groenewald revealed the budget allocation for the next three years is R87.1 billion. Still, the department’s expenditure is set to increase at an average annual rate of 4.5%, jumping from R26.6 billion in 2023/24 to R30.3 billion in 2026/27. He said the budget cuts are severe.

“The provision of security equipment is compromised, capital investment in skills developments was cut, the budget for nutritional services had to be cut, capital works projects will be on hold and the monitoring of parolees could be negatively impacted. We will have to do more with less. This will require innovation, discipline, and commitment,” he said during an interview with Newzroom Afrika.

He said some of the challenges the department currently faces include overcrowding, dilapidated facilities, increasing remand detainees, deteriorating infrastructure, staff shortages, and crime syndicates and gangs within the facilities.

He also highlighted various social issues such as poverty, poor education, and employment opportunities, as well as substance abuse, exposing others to criminal activity and mental illnesses.

He also looked at the increase in inmates from the previous financial year, jumping by 13 833 inmates (9.7%). He said unsetenced inmates comprise nearly 60 000 inmates. The department will strengthen other criminal justice agencies working alongside the department to address delays in cases and ease pressure on correctional services.

“The long-term solution requires departments and agencies within the justice, crime prevention, and security cluster to develop comprehensive and evidence-based criminal justice reform strategies that address overcrowding effectively and sustainably,” said Groenewald.

The department wants to ensure correctional services are safe and secure and they will prioritise addressing areas of inefficiency and to root out corruption, ill-discipline, and restoring service delivery to create a system that heals and restores.

Two issues that will receive urgent attention are effective contract management and the reduction of outsourcing.

He said the department was working on reviewing the parole system and the time has now come for the department to finalise the matter.

“The current criteria seem not to be appreciated. Though victims of crime are allowed to participate in the parole process, how far do their voices go? This calls for a relook into the review and oversight mechanisms. It is critical that this administration finalise this review in the interest of all.”

According to EWN, Groenewald said he was well aware of the public debate on parole and he knew that many people were unhappy about the applicable crriteria.

“Reforming our parole system is not just a policy issue, but a moral imperative. Although victims of crime are allowed to participate in the parole process, how far do their voices go? That’s the question,” he said.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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