Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and entourage, and hon members, I am indeed humbled by this opportunity to participate on behalf of the ANC in the debate on this policy statement and the debate on Budget Vote 21 for Correctional Services. I guess I must declare up front that we, as the ANC, support this budget. This is motivated by our conviction that the department and the Ministry are indeed on a good path of transformation and service delivery to citizens in this sector, which deals with the correction of offending conduct and the rehabilitation of those who are incarcerated and in remand detention. We are doing so because we understand the long history of prisons in this country and elsewhere.
We also understand the history of how people were treated in prisons and how they were used to build an economy that they did not benefit from. When I was growing up in KwaZulu-Natal, I never went to Bethal, but I always knew that if you went to prison you would work on the potato fields in Bethal. So, we know the abuse of the prison system in this country has a long-standing history.
In 1994, when democracy was ushered in, we took a new look at how we treat each other, as we ushered in a human rights culture and a constitutional democracy in our country.
Therefore our conviction as the ANC is that corrections and rehabilitation are the way to go. This is attested to by a number of regulatory frameworks and the legislation that we have been introducing in Parliament. This legislation and the regulatory frameworks help us to deal with issues of how people who have displayed serious offending behaviour should be treated and taken care of and how they need to be assisted to rebuild their lives. We don't say this because we are any less convinced of their criminality, but because we believe that if we manage to create social cohesion and make it successful for all our people, it will take us as a country to the heights we want to achieve.
Therefore, we as the ANC argue that the constitutional imperatives that proclaim human dignity, equality and nondiscrimination apply across the board to all citizens and consequently to the work done by this department.
Given the increase in the budget, we are convinced that the work the department has set itself will be achievable. The budget will grow to R19 billion by 2015. In regard to this budget the Minister mentioned that in terms of the integrated approach to the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster, the whole cluster is now receiving above 24% of the national Budget. This is an indication of how we as the ANC are committed to fighting crime and correcting those among us who have displayed deviant and unacceptable behaviour.
Therefore we also welcome the work that the officials presented to the select committee when they briefed us on their renewed energy and commitment to better performance. We know this department has had problems and needed a turnaround. As a committee, we are now convinced that this turnaround is achievable.
In the presentation of their Annual Performance Plan, the department indicated its concerns. Thanks to the energised chief financial officer, the funds and plans in regard to stabilising the finance are now intact and everyone has been taken on board in dealing with this matter.
As the Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Development, we do have concerns and the Department of Correctional Services itself has raised issues with us. Issues include the ability to spend, which is affected by the slow co-operation of client departments, like Public Works. In fact, this has caused them not to deliver or complete certain facilities in time. These are facilities which they presented to us in the annual report of 2010-11 as projects that would have been completed.
Hon Bloem and hon Manzini, we as the ANC support the announcement of the President on the remission of sentences. We are not doing so because it deals with overcrowding. We are part of an international community and of the conventions of a legal system. We have learnt from best practices on this issue.
Just to remind all of us, especially those who are opposing this and speaking out against the remission of sentences, this is a constitutional democracy, a constitutional state. We - the chairperson, the Minister, and I - have highlighted the fact that the Constitution says we are all equal. Whether your behaviour has been unacceptable or you have committed a crime, you still have rights. We have a responsibility to dispense justice accordingly and to assist with rehabilitation. We want to be able to rely on the fact that we will turn these people into good citizens and let them take part in society.
We therefore urge society itself to accept and understand that keeping people in prison or in correctional centres is a cost. It is estimated to be almost R3 000. So, if you release 10 000 prisoners, it gives you a saving. It is a saving and good use of public money to release people who pose a lower risk.
Through you, Minister, we urge the department to make sure that they do consult with people and take cognisance of the feelings and the situations of the victims when they release prisoners. They must also consult with the victims to give counselling and support, as we were promised by the department. We also ... [Interjections.]