Hon Deputy Chairperson, allow me also to add my voice to those of thousands of South Africans expressing condolences to the Sisulu family. Mama Sisulu was an inspiration to the nation. May her soul rest in peace and rise in glory.
It is indeed an honour for me to debate Budget Vote No 24-Justice and Constitutional Development. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is to uphold and protect the rule of law, and to allow all South Africans an equal and accessible system of justice for a safer, more secure country in a constitutional democracy.
A rehabilitation programme needs to be implemented for people released on parole. When they are released, they are expected to go back into a society that they once lived in before committing a crime. It is not so easy for a person who is released on parole just to fit into the community that he or she left behind 10, 15, 20 or even more years before.
Finding employment is an impossible mission for such a person. Needless to say, when such persons are out, what happens next is that many of them end up committing another crime and finding their way back to jail because of not being able to adjust and not being given an opportunity to find a decent job.
There are few opportunities for people who have been released on parole. Some of them get involved in crime within the first few months of their release and commit another offence. The department needs to mentally prepare all people who will be released on parole for the challenges that are awaiting them once they are released.
I have a few of these cases in my constituency. It is not easy to keep them motivated and to try to assist them in finding employment. While they are in prison people's skills are developed, but unfortunately they are not utilised once they are released. Many thousands of rand are spent on different training and skills development programmes. This should be linked with community organisations, nongovernmental organisations and community- based organisations to pursue their development once they are released.
A big part of the budget is spent on the cost of transporting awaiting- trial detainees to and from courts for the postponement of cases. This can sometimes continue for months, if not years. A huge amount can be saved if awaiting-trail cases were resolved as quickly as possible. Section 159 of the Criminal Procedure Act, Act 51 of 1977, was amended, and this will resolve the unnecessary wastage.
Juvenile prisons are also a concern because so many kids become part of the awaiting-trial process and get exposed to prisons at a very young age. The awaiting-trial period should be speeded up, as some of these children are kept for longer periods then the actual period they should be kept for. The prisons are overcrowded and it is not a conducive place for many of the children to be in. Rehabilitation and skills development must also take place in juvenile prisons. The department needs to form a partnership with schools to help the kids to be accepted back into schools. Opportunities must be created by the department to improve their wellbeing once they are released.
The department's budget for Masters' services for the financial year 2011- 12 is R324 million. A training and education model needs to be implemented in local communities to teach them how the department operates and also how they can utilise it. The department needs to arrange workshops regarding the Masters' Offices in all communities. The community needs educational programme around what is encompassed by the Master's Office.
Some deceased estates take a long time to wind up. Improvements need to take place in this division to assist the families that remain behind. Maintenance and child support are a legal duty and the law must be enforced when that is expected. Legal advice is free for parents that need it, but unfortunately this is not as easily available as it should be.
South Africans can dial 17737 from their landlines for free. This is the important Presidential Hotline number. Unfortunately it is not as hot as it is supposed to be. The department has identified skills shortages and also the underrepresentation of women and people with disabilities. The staff's low productivity and low morale need to be improved to make this hotline hot, as this will assist with service delivery. This department was spearheaded by the President and it is not functioning properly. How do we expect South Africans to have faith in utilising the Presidential Hotline when it is actually not as hot as it should be?
In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to all South Africans, especially our members, who have not yet complied with the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication- related Information Act to do so now before 30 June. The finalisation of cases needs to improve in order to give everyone the opportunity of the right to a fair trial. I would like to quote the famous William E Gladstone, British statesman and prime minister, who said: "Justice delayed is justice denied." Also allow me to quote the following verse from Proverbs 21:15 in the Bible:
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
Siyabonga. [We thank you.] [Applause.]