Izwe lethu! [This is our country!] [Laughter.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister of Correctional Services, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, esteemed guests, the prisons in South Africa are bursting at their seams because of their overpopulation. Unfortunately the Correctional Services Ministry has not moved on its undertaking to reduce the number of inmates.
We have submitted, and we do so again, that members of the Azanian People's Liberation Army and uMkhonto weSizwe and others imprisoned for acts related to the struggle for liberation, as well as politically motivated offenders be prioritised for release.
They are different to common criminals. In the case of the freedom fighters, their acts were merely criminalised by the system they had been fighting.
The state has failed these freedom fighters, including through the aborted presidential pardon project. It baffles us that freedom fighters remain behind bars after nearly two decades of democracy. We call for the speedy release of all freedom fighters and political prisoners. The PAC supports the budget. [Applause.]