Chairperson, the EFF rejects Budget Vote 24 because it continues to give the rich options that poor people do not have in the justice system. For instance, it is optional for a person who has money to await trial in prison or at home, whereas for poor people bail as low as R1 000 could sometimes cost them time in jail, awaiting trial for weeks, months or even years. It also gives rich people the option to choose a lawyer of their choice, while poor people - who do not have the necessary means - must make do with what is affordable or what they are given by the state.
Magistrates' courts, officials and staff continue to be overworked and underpaid, and there is a backlog in cases. The location of courts is often far away from the poorest areas, especially in the rural areas.
This is also a system that is extremely harsh on the ordinary citizen, while criminals who are involved in embezzling billions of rands go untouched. We are referring to multinational companies that are involved in tax evasion, price-fixing and those that enter South Africa and do as they please, exploiting our workers, polluting our environment and extracting raw materials from South Africa without any programme of social responsibility.
"Hhayi cha bandla." [No, people!] Justice for the rich by the rich cannot be supported by the EFF. Thank you, Chair.