'What's more cruel... jailing someone who can't afford bail, or corporal punishment?'
He says that there are currently 108,000 beds which are enough to cover the 104,000 sentenced prisoners in our country.
However, there are also 60,000 detainees waiting for trial, and no space to accommodate them.
2,500 of these detainees are low level offenders who cannot afford bail of R1,000 or less.
Groenewald says these detainees can be imprisoned for as long as a year before trial.
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The South African
9 hours ago
- The South African
Yes or no? SA weighs into unbanning corporal punishment
South Africans are weighing in on the debate surrounding unbanning corporal punishment as suggested by the Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, to combat prison overcrowding. The minister called on citizens to start a dialogue during his budget vote presentation at the National Assembly this week. Delivering his budget vote at the National Assembly this week, Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald suggested a debate on reintroducing corporal punishment as a means of preventing prison overcrowding. The controversial practice was abolished in South African schools in 1996 under the Corporal Punishment Act, and later the South African Schools Act, specifically Section 10. He later told eNCA: 'It is causing the taxpayer R463 per day per prisoner. And that is why I said we should open the debate. I know that there is certain legislation…but let's hear what the people of South Africa's views are'. He continued: 'If it is possible that we can use corporal punishment, then we can address part of the overcrowding and we're also going to save the taxpayers' money'. Groenewald suggested that the practice should be used against those who committed petty offences and could not afford bail. Corporal punishment was officially outlawed in South African schools, as outlined in the Constitution, which enshrines the right to freedom and security of children, including freedom from violence. In 2019, the Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled that enforcing the act in schools was 'unconstitutional.' In its judgement, it referred to research that showed that the practice was 'potentially harmful and part of a wider circle of violence', particularly amid South Africa's 'history of widespread and institutionalised violence'. Should SA unban corporal punishment? Image via Pixabay Later, in 2022, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) criticised reports that then Gauteng MEC for Education, Penyaza Lesufi, suggested reviewing policies, including corporal punishment. It said: 'Corporal punishment increases behavioural problems in children in the long-term and has shown no positive behavioural outcomes.' On the X platform, South Africans have shared their views on whether corporal punishment should be unbanned in society, whether in schools or prisons. Popular podcaster Penuel Mlotshwa posted: 'I support Pieter Groenewald. There are people sitting in jail for petty crimes, which strains tax money… but fattens the purses of tenderpreneurs. Those people should get a whipping and be released. Here's what others had to say… @nicksta_napo: 'Maybe make it mandatory for people to serve in the military for a specific period, rather than abusing kids at school'. @UnityInSA: 'We need this. Whatever we had in 30 years is clearly not working. Time to change the system. If a potential criminal does not want to be punished, then he/she must stay away from crime. Its simple'. @KG_Mulelwa: 'Corporal punishment for petty crimes and death penalty via lethal injection for serious and hideous crimes'. @Sthamber: 'Corporal punishment takes us back to the bad old days of Apartheid. There should be better ways of dealing with prison overcrowding. South Africa needs to be more innovative'.
IOL News
9 hours ago
- IOL News
Bring back the whip, says Minister Groenewald
Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has ignited after suggesting South Africa consider bringing back corporal punishment for petty criminals who can't afford bail Should a person who steals ten loaves of bread be sent to prison for years, or given a painful walloping and sent home? That's the debate Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has ignited after suggesting South Africa consider bringing back corporal punishment for petty criminals who can't afford bail. Speaking during a parliamentary discussion on the country's 2025 correctional services budget, Groenewald said the justice system was collapsing under the weight of overcrowded prisons, and bold ideas were needed. 'There are people sitting in prison for stealing food,' Groenewald said. 'Some wait up to three years for sentencing. Isn't it time we asked ourselves — should we bring back corporal punishment?' He was referring to more than 2,500 detainees who are stuck in prison simply because they can't afford a bail of R1 000 or less. These are often people accused of small, non-violent crimes. And they're part of a bigger crisis: South Africa has over 104 000 people in prison, in facilities built for far fewer. Beds are limited. Staff is stretched thin. And many of those awaiting trial don't need to be behind bars at all. But Groenewald's solution, physical punishment, has divided the country. For some, the idea is too close to South Africa's dark history. Human rights groups and political opponents quickly pushed back, saying the suggestion reminded them of the harsh justice handed out under apartheid, where the state used caning and other physical punishments as tools of control.' This isn't just about crime and punishment,' said a human rights lawyer. 'This is about dignity. This is about a state choosing whether to treat people as human beings or not.'The mention of corporal punishment immediately brought comparisons to apartheid's security forces, who were notorious for using violence under the name of justice.
IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
ANC purges scandal prone mayor and deputy in KwaDukuza shake-up
THE ANC has instructed the axed mayor of KwaDukuza Ali Ngidi to repay taxpayer's money after splurging on luxury vehicle car hire and 24-hour security guards at his house. Image: KwaDukuza Municipality IN less than a year after the election of a new mayor, KwaDukuza Municipality, on the north of KwaZulu-Natal finds itself without a mayor after the ANC's summary axing of its scandal-prone mayor, Ali Muzi Ngidi. The reaction from opposition parties like uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and the Democratic Alliance (MKP) is that of good riddance. The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal led by the provincial task team co-ordinator, Michael Mabuyakhulu ordered Ngidi and his deputy to pay back the taxpayer's money following the highly-publicised luxury vehicle hire scandal. Ngidi was elected eight months ago on November 4, following the ousting of mayor Lindile Nhaca who couldn't withstand pressure from the provincial structure of the ANC to vacate her position. She was removed on October 31, through a vote of no confidence. Nhaca pleas to Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula to protect her from then-KZN ANC secretary Bheki Mtolo were unsuccessful. Mtolo had explained her removal as part of the reconfiguration of the KwaDukuza municipality following the ANC's poor showing in the May elections last year. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Ngidi was removed along with his deputy mayor Sicelinjabulo Cele. Both tendered their resignations yesterday under pressure from the provincial ANC. The decision was announced at a briefing by Mabuyakhulu. "Following the proper channels, they will continue with their jobs until they have been successfully replaced. We have also requested them to pay back some of the money used to hire vehicles for them from the time they started their term of office," he said. Ngidi and Cele's removal follows an ANC probe into misconduct and financial mismanagement, including over R1 million spent on hired vehicles and a monthly security bill of R173,000 for the mayor. Ngidi had been deputy mayor during Nhaca's tenure, and his brief stint as mayor was marked by a R35.7 million embezzlement from the municipal coffers, rolling power outages during the summer holidays in December, and a municipal workers' strike this week. Mabuyakhulu didn't announce when the party would make a decision on the new leadership. Soon after assuming office, it was reported a municipal vehicle which was part of the previous mayor's fleet was used as a school shuttle for Ngidi's children. The ANC provincial spokesperson, Fanle Sibisi, said the total cost to be paid by the mayor and Cele will be determined by the municipal council after a proper consolidation. The two were alleged to have splurged on hired luxury vehicles when they assumed office, despite the availability of a roadworthy mayoral fleet, which included two BMW X3s with mileage of less than 70 000km. Ngidi further splurged on a Durban-based security firm by acquiring at least eight security who guarded his house around the clock. The MKP's Ilembe Detachment Chairperson, Basil Ntuli, said: "We welcome and fully endorse this decision as it aligns with our long-standing concerns regarding the conduct and integrity of these individuals. For several months, the MK Party has been closely monitoring the actions of both the mayor and deputy mayor, whose conduct has repeatedly brought the name and governance of the KwaDukuza Municipality into disrepute." Ntuli said the removal marked a necessary and overdue step towards restoring accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership within the municipality. "The departure of these two individuals represents a turning point for KwaDukuza and provides an opportunity to refocus municipal priorities toward service delivery and community development," said Ntuli.
