Chairperson, I will start with the last one. As regards thinking about and considering privatising it, we haven't spoken about that yet. We haven't thought about it because we are in it together with other departments. So, I cannot make that decision alone as a department. We need other departments also to come together. Maybe that project team - the Management of Awaiting-Trial Detainee Project Team that we have put together - will come up with those kinds of recommendations.
You are quite correct. We have seen, in other countries, how they are run and how they have been privatised. It does take a lot from us. The population of awaiting-trial detainees is really too much and the time it takes is quite long. But with the involvement of the Portfolio Committee on Justice together with that on Correctional Services and that on the SAPS, it will help us a lot when we try to move the backlogs of those who have been in detention for a long time.
Correctly, it is not our core business. Our core business is to correct and rehabilitate and it is difficult with awaiting-trial detainees because they are here today and out tomorrow and sometimes they go through spells of bail applications and it takes so much from us. But I can assure you that the team that is handling this matter is very good and we are cracking the whip to get this done.
I would like to see pilot projects actually taking off in one of the big centres like Pollsmoor, Johannesburg Prison being the second one and, thirdly, one probably which is very overcrowded is Umtata. Something will be done in those three centres and once they work then I will know that we are on the right track. Thank you.
Minister's stance on suspension of a certain person
351. Ms D Kohler-Barnard (DA) asked the Minister of Safety and Security:
Whether he will suspend a certain person (name furnished) in view of his (a) overall performance, (b) the high crime rate and (c) relationship with a person with questionable reputation (name furnished); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?