Madam Speaker, as the ANC we acknowledge the collective downward management of offenders which demonstrates that we are on the right track with a small, but significant and sustained impact on, for example, the numbers of those awaiting trial that were reduced during the reporting period by 1,53%.
We further commend and appreciate the initiatives by Minister Balfour and further note his recent visits to the correctional centres in the Eastern Cape, namely Middledrift and Fort Beaufort. The ANC condemns the inhumane conditions in our prisons caused by overcrowding. The visit by the Minister has urged the magistrates in Alice, Middledrift and Fort Beaufort to help cut down overcrowding, especially with the expected increase in arrests over the festive season.
These interventions are informed by our commitment to prioritise the human conditions of our correctional centres in order to curb any systemic failures that could destabilise the entire prison population.
We support the Minister in his efforts and further urge the state not to oppose bail for nonserious offences unless there is a danger of them influencing the investigation. The officials should make an extra effort to assist the awaiting-trial detainees still in prison because they cannot afford to pay their bail. Over 10 000 awaiting-trial detainees cannot afford bail of R1 000 and less and yet keeping them in prison costs the taxpayer R2,34 million per day. That is a lot of money. Thank you very much.