Cape Town – Leader of the Freedom Front Plus Pieter Groenewald has responded to criticism regarding his appointment as Minister of Correctional Services.
Groenewald, among several MPs appointed to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet, faced backlash, particularly from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who voiced concerns about potential racism in prisons, EWN reported.
Despite the criticism, Groenewald remains committed to his role, emphasising his focus on combating corruption and ensuring effective rehabilitation programmess.
“The EFF is worried that they will end up in jail while I’m correctional services minister. My aim is to ensure that we must fight corruption in correction services and that in the end, there must be proper and sustainable rehabilitation programmes. But of course, it is clear the EFF is worried about that,” the report quoted Groenewald as saying.
He also said that he would not use ministerial perks like blue lights or state-funded bodyguards, advocating for punctuality and efficiency.
Meanwhile, according to IOL, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has welcomed the appointment of Groenewald as the new Correctional Services Minister.
Representing thousands of police officers and prison warders, Popcru emphasised the need for capable, ethical, and efficient leadership to address issues like overcrowding and understaffing in South Africa’s correctional facilities.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
