Hon Chairperson, Minister and officials of the Department of Correctional Services, today I indeed need to differ from a lot of my colleagues, but I need to say it like it is.
It is very important in this country never to look down on another person, whether a prisoner or not. [Interjections.] It is very important. The way you look at people determines how you are going to treat them. We are not allowed to discriminate against anybody. The Constitution says everybody is equal. Even the Word of God says we are equal. [Interjections.]
Part of the core business of the department is to rehabilitate offenders. The White Paper on Corrections correctly places rehabilitation at the centre of the department's work. Many people will be amazed by what I am going to say here today.
Hon Minister, I would like to congratulate you on what you have achieved in decreasing the number of consultants in this department from 156 to 45. That is excellent! I hope other departments will learn from that. Stop using consultants. Identify the skill and then employ your own people.
Congratulations also on the reconfiguration of the structures. You had so many people who reported to the national commissioner, but now you have fewer people. This is a sign that you have a vision and a plan, and that you are going to implement your plan.