Chairperson, I
want to thank members for all the inputs that we have heard from the House.
On the DA, South Africa is a constitutionally unitary democracy. We have fought against balkanisation of our country into fragmented regionalised entities and we can't do it now. The problems we are facing can't be solved by becoming a federal state. We have a critical and a strategic role to play as a department by ensuring that we consolidate the rule of law and deepen constitutional democracy in order to attract foreign direct investment. So, we all have a role as a country and as a department is for us to consolidate that there is a rule of law.
On the questions that we have been asked about the political prisoners or inmates, most of those who were denied by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, TRC, was because they committed crimes such as armed robbery, bank heist and so forth. So, as a result they were denied amnesty by the TRC and it is for that reason that we will not be able to help them with any amnesty even at this stage.
At present, we are currently looking various political prisoners or inmates and we will soon make announce to the country in that
regard, because there are many that do qualify and there are others that don't qualify, but the categorisation is very clear. Those that have committed crimes such as bank robberies and so forth is not going to happen.
Lastly, with regard to the Public Protector, I think that all the institutions or whoever has been found by the Public Protector have decided to take the matters to court. I think as hon Dodovu raised it, we should allow that process to unfold and wait for the courts to make rulings. We should also not be selective in quoting court judgements.
There is a recent court judgement that I don't want to quote, but it has been very clear about the work of the Public Protector and it has went into characters and so forth. So, I think it is important that we allow the courts to pronounce so that even the committees can take into cognisance the various judgements that are coming out of the courts. Premature pronouncements or actions on these judgements may even affect you as human beings and yourselves as members of various political parties here in this House, because this House has also many judgements that it has to deal with that comes from that office. So, you might also be sitting here thinking that you are insulting somebody else where as you might be insulting
yourself. [Applause.] So, I think it is very important that this House pays due consideration to all the judgements in a balanced and a scientific manner.
The President can't take leave of absence. The President has to execute his responsibilities. He has constitutional obligation as elected by the people of this country. [Applause.]
With regard to paroles, I am not sure if time still allows, but we have now ensured that whatever parole that we give to any of our inmates, there has been consultation with the victims. We are also looking at ensuring that when a person is convicted from the process of the trial up until the person is released on parole; there is a programme that deals with the issues of victims. That programme also deals with community interactions, community corrections, but also the rehabilitation of the offenders in our various centres.
The biggest challenge we have is that most of our centres that are overcrowded or would double the number of inmates is the big correctional centres like Sun City in Johannesburg, Pollsmoor, Durban Westville, and Matatshe in Limpopo. So, we are looking at various legislative mandates that we have that deals with custodial and noncustodial putting of our inmates to ease the burden on the
correctional services and during this financial year, we will make proper announcement in that regard. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]