Deputy Speaker, hon Fritz, to be honest, this is a very difficult matter. It is a very sensitive matter in that there is a human rights issue here, which has been violated on a number of occasions by our own members. Actually, in most cases, and this is what we found out from the last investigation, it is because we need to look at the circumstances leading to the death of the inmate.
We find that in most cases, in fact, it is a matter of officials reacting to assaults by inmates on them. Unfortunately, the manner in which they then react, which goes back to the definition of maximum force, has, in a sense, led to deaths in some of these cases. We find that, unless we deal with the whole matter of gangs in our centres, we are not going to be able to avoid, when we should not even be having, these kinds of unnatural deaths.
Indeed, if you have a gang culture, for instance, in the case of Kokstad, where people simply took a decision that the centre was not properly opened, we need to take steps in order for it to have been properly opened. Obviously, the reaction of the members is that, in defend themselves by applying maximum force, this maximum force has unfortunately led to these kinds of incidents. Thank you.
Steps taken by department to assist South African farmers in Zimbabwe
158. Mr K S Mubu (DA) asked the Minister of International Relations and Co- operation:
What steps are her department taking to (a) assist South African farmers in Zimbabwe whose farms have been taken over by ZANU-PF officials to recover their farms, (b) ensure that the farmers receive fair compensation for their lost properties and (c) ensure their personal safety and security and that of their families?