ID SPEECH ON JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES BUDGET VOTE
26 MAY 2010-The ID believes that a number of decisions by this ministry over the past year have placed the principle of the independence of the judiciary and the National Prosecuting Authority under threat.
JOHN GUNDA, MP IN THE NCOP
Honourable Chairperson, all protocol observed.
The ID believes that a number of decisions by this ministry over the past year have placed the principle of the independence of the judiciary and the National Prosecuting Authority under threat.
For the record, the Independent Democrats has repeatedly made its views over the appointment of Menzi Simelani clear.
The appointment of this arrogant and almost definitely dishonest former Director General of Justice and later the Deputy Director of the NPA, as the country’s new National Director of Public Prosecutions, was an indictment on Government.
That the President could appoint someone that was accused by Frene Ginwala’s panel of deceiving Brigitte Mabandla, his former boss and Justice Minister, and of interfering with the NPA’s independence, shows the Government’s disregard for the independence of the NPA.
It is a fact that the Ginwala Commission found that Simelane had penned a letter for Mabandla instructing Pikoli to suspend his probe into former Police Chief Jackie Selebi.
Does the fact that Mabandla’s successor, Enver Surty, asked the Public Service Commission to investigate Simelane's conduct and that the Commission recommended he be charged with misconduct and be subjected to a disciplinary inquiry, mean nothing to the President?
Instead, this man was rewarded by Government by getting a job promotion.
In terms of Correctional Services, the ID remains concerned that South Africa’s correctional centres are hopelessly overcrowded and are not up to the task of rehabilitating criminals.
If anything, a petty criminal entering one of these so-called ‘correctional centres’ will often come out a hardened criminal.
This is why we remain concerned that instead of doing what they are mandated to do, rehabilitating, they are becoming entrenched as universities of crime.
Unofficial statistics report that over 70% of criminals who leave jail revert back to their criminal ways.
Honourable Chairperson, we must alleviate the overcrowding in our prisons by cutting down on the number of awaiting trial prisoners who are languishing in jail.
The conditions that some awaiting trial prisoners are held are unacceptable, for example, the King William’s Town prison.
We must also ensure that awaiting trial cases are processed far more efficiently by the justice system and encourage alternatives to incarceration for less serious offences.
Finally honourable Chair, the ratio of warders to prisoners needs to be reviewed and justified, while their danger allowances need to be increased drastically.
The income inequalities between ordinary warders and high officials like Commissioners and their deputies must be reviewed.
I thank you.
The ID supports the budget.
For media enquiries, please call John Gunda on 078 259 4578
Honourable Chairperson, all protocol observed.
The ID believes that a number of decisions by this ministry over the past year have placed the principle of the independence of the judiciary and the National Prosecuting Authority under threat.
For the record, the Independent Democrats has repeatedly made its views over the appointment of Menzi Simelani clear.
The appointment of this arrogant and almost definitely dishonest former Director General of Justice and later the Deputy Director of the NPA, as the country’s new National Director of Public Prosecutions, was an indictment on Government.
That the President could appoint someone that was accused by Frene Ginwala’s panel of deceiving Brigitte Mabandla, his former boss and Justice Minister, and of interfering with the NPA’s independence, shows the Government’s disregard for the independence of the NPA.
It is a fact that the Ginwala Commission found that Simelane had penned a letter for Mabandla instructing Pikoli to suspend his probe into former Police Chief Jackie Selebi.
Does the fact that Mabandla’s successor, Enver Surty, asked the Public Service Commission to investigate Simelane's conduct and that the Commission recommended he be charged with misconduct and be subjected to a disciplinary inquiry, mean nothing to the President?
Instead, this man was rewarded by Government by getting a job promotion.
In terms of Correctional Services, the ID remains concerned that South Africa’s correctional centres are hopelessly overcrowded and are not up to the task of rehabilitating criminals.
If anything, a petty criminal entering one of these so-called ‘correctional centres’ will often come out a hardened criminal.
This is why we remain concerned that instead of doing what they are mandated to do, rehabilitating, they are becoming entrenched as universities of crime.
Unofficial statistics report that over 70% of criminals who leave jail revert back to their criminal ways.
Honourable Chairperson, we must alleviate the overcrowding in our prisons by cutting down on the number of awaiting trial prisoners who are languishing in jail.
The conditions that some awaiting trial prisoners are held are unacceptable, for example, the King William’s Town prison.
We must also ensure that awaiting trial cases are processed far more efficiently by the justice system and encourage alternatives to incarceration for less serious offences.
Finally honourable Chair, the ratio of warders to prisoners needs to be reviewed and justified, while their danger allowances need to be increased drastically.
The income inequalities between ordinary warders and high officials like Commissioners and their deputies must be reviewed.
I thank you.
The ID supports the budget.
For media enquiries, please call John Gunda on 078 259 4578
