South Africa’s Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, has proposed reintroducing corporal punishment to address prison overcrowding, particularly for inmates unable to afford bail of R1,000 or less. Speaking during his budget vote in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Groenewald highlighted the strain on facilities, with over 60,000 individuals awaiting trial, including more than 2,000 held due to unaffordable low bail amounts.

Corporal punishment was banned in South African prisons in 1996 by an act of Parliament. However, Groenewald argued that revisiting the practice could reduce the pressure on overcrowded facilities, where limited accommodation remains a persistent challenge.

The minister also took a firm stance on parole, particularly for life-sentenced inmates. He emphasized that completing rehabilitation programs does not guarantee release. “If a psychological or criminologist report indicates a medium to high risk of re-offending, I will not approve parole,” Groenewald stated.

Additionally, Groenewald outlined plans to address the presence of foreign nationals in South African prisons. He proposed transferring them to serve sentences in their home countries and deporting those who complete their terms immediately.

Groenewald, marking a year in his role, acknowledged the complexities of managing the country’s correctional system but vowed to tackle these issues head-on.