Cape Town – Freedom Front Plus (FF+) leader Pieter Groenewald was appointed Minister of Correctional Services, receiving a surprising call from President Cyril Ramaphosa on his way home from the airport.
According to The Citizen, despite the FF+ previously rejecting executive positions in the Northern Cape, Groenewald accepted the cabinet role after consulting party leadership.
“After the call, which was a big surprise, I called a party meeting of the FF+ leadership, who made the decision for me to accept the offer from the president.
“The Freedom Front Plus was never involved in any negotiations with the ANC on obtaining any Cabinet position in the GNU.
“It was a bit of a surprise, because in the Northern Cape we rejected executive positions offered and wanted to remain chairs of portfolio committees in the legislature,” the report quoted Groenewald as saying.
He emphasised his commitment to honesty, integrity, and combating corruption in his new role.
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He aims to identify and strengthen the department’s weaknesses and strengths, with a focus on encouraging whistle-blowers and ensuring consequences for corruption.
Groenewald will on Wednesday be among the MPs sworn in as ministers in Ramaphosa’s Government of National Unity (GNU).
He recently responded to criticism regarding his appointment as minister, particularly from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who voiced concerns about potential racism in prisons, EWN reported.
“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,” he said, according to the report.
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) welcomed his appointment.
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
