Correctional Services Budget Vote Declaration: ACDP

Friday, June 21, 2002

Steve Swart MP – ACDP

In Parliament yesterday African Christian Democratic Party MP Mr Steve Swart gave the following speech registering the ACDP’s vote in support of the Correctional Services Budget: :


Madame Speaker, Honourable Minister, whilst the ACDP will support this vote, we have the following reservations.

The growth of the budget allocation does not reflect the increasing number of expected prisoners by 2004. There is clearly a need for Justice, Safety and Security and Correctional Services Portfolio Committees to meet as a cluster to address mutual issues of concern such as that of overcrowding due to awaiting trial prisoners.

There is also an imbalance regarding personnel since there are plans to recruit 6000 police per year, whilst there has been no planned increase for Correctional Services. We agree that this does not make sense as increased arrests will result in an increase in the number of prisoners that end up in the correctional services’ system.

It would be opportune to say something about the television coverage of the corruption at Grootvlei Prison in Bloemfontein. Instead of wanting to discipline the head of the prison, he should be given a medal for exposing this evil. It is disgraceful. The sexual abuse of the juvenile is sickening. This wickedness must be rooted out and by all accounts is endemic in the prisons.


Severe prison overcrowding and deplorable health conditions must continually be addressed. Overcrowding remains a problem, and is the root cause of health problems and the spread of disease, such as tuberculosis and HIV- Aids, in the prison. We welcome the steps taken by the Honourable Minister in ordering the suspension of the implicated wardens, and look forward to the findings of the Jali Commission of Inquiry.

The way forward must be the application of restorative justice principles, which is premised upon the acceptance of guilt by the offender, and the payment of restitution to the victim where appropriate, or the rendering of community service, in cases where there was no danger to public safety. In this regard, the ACDP commends the Minister, the Commissioner and the Department for their active commitment to Restorative Justice programs.

In conclusion, the ACDP supports the budget vote.

I thank you.


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For further comment please call Steve Swart MP at 083 285 6290 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 478 1037





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[1] Minister Buthelezi’s speech on the Immigration Bill, May 17, 2002.