‘Correctional facilities must produce own food and save taxpayers money’: Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald
Written by Mxolisi on July 4, 2024
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an expanded national executive on Sunday night, with 32 Cabinet ministers and 42 deputy ministers to lead the seventh administration of South Africa.
On Wednesday, in an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, Groenewald said he had never said he wants hard labour for inmates.
“This thing about hard labour and everything, that is not true. What I said is, we will see how we can save money for the taxpayers of South Africa. I do believe the facilities, correctional facilities must start to produce their own food again.
“They have the agricultural land, it is there. There are proposals (and) institutions who want to assist with that. I will seriously look into that matter so that we can save taxpayers’ money. There is nothing wrong to ensure that facilities produce their own vegetables and their own food,” said Groenewald.
In his televised address earlier this week, Ramaphosa announced that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development in the previous administration has now been separated from the new Ministry of Correctional Services headed by Groenewald.
