Pieter Groenewald Cracks Down on Prison Crime, Eyes Safer, Self-Reliant DCS

Delivering a firm message in Parliament during his Budget Vote speech, Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald unveiled sweeping progress and plans to overhaul South Africa’s prison system. Backed by data, discipline, and a renewed push for financial self-reliance, Groenewald emphasized a commitment to rooting out lawlessness within correctional facilities and reinforcing community safety.

From intensifying raids and reforming parole systems to implementing budget-saving agricultural initiatives, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is doubling down on its constitutional mandate to rehabilitate, secure, and reintegrate inmates responsibly—while managing fiscal constraints with innovation.

Nationwide Raids and Facility Oversight Yield Results

Minister Groenewald reported that the DCS had conducted 466 targeted raids in correctional centres across the country in the past year as part of an intensified anti-corruption and anti-smuggling crackdown. These efforts were paired with numerous unannounced visits by the Minister himself, which will continue to increase over the next year.

“We can only address our problems if we recognise their true extent,” he said, reinforcing the importance of transparency and proactive enforcement.

Items confiscated during the raids include:

• 33,000+ cellphones smuggled into prisons

• 20,577 sharpened weapons and makeshift tools

• 122,407 contraband items related to alcohol and illicit substances

• 232.16 kg of illegal drugs

• R394,000 in cash, often linked to illegal dealings behind bars

Discipline and Accountability: Tackling Internal Misconduct

Internal accountability has been a cornerstone of Groenewald’s reform agenda. Over the past year:

• 515 officials received final written warnings

• 181 were suspended without pay

• 146 officials were dismissed for misconduct

This reflects a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and negligence within the department’s ranks. The Minister stressed that systemic change requires not only monitoring inmates but also upholding the integrity of prison officials.

Reforming Parole: A Gatekeeper Against Reoffending

Groenewald offered sobering statistics about parole management. Of the 1,079 life imprisonment profiles reviewed under his tenure:

• 29 parole applications were approved

• 3 inmates were granted day parole

• 5 parolees are subject to deportation

• 38 parolees had their release revoked

• 3 parole decisions were overturned after Ministerial review

He reaffirmed his strict approach to parole, emphasizing that rehabilitation programs and training are not alone sufficient grounds for release. Psychological evaluations and reoffending risk assessments will be central in all future decisions.

“When the risk of reoffending is medium to high, I will not approve parole. Justice must come first,” he stated firmly.

Tightening the Purse Strings: Budget Cuts Amid Innovation

DCS is facing budget constraints with an allocated budget of:

• R29 billion for 2025/26

• Rising to R30 billion for 2026/27

• Reaching R31.9 billion by 2027/28

However, these figures are shadowed by real cuts that impact security provisions, skills development, nutrition, capital projects, and parolee monitoring.

A capital works shortfall of R222 million has significantly slowed infrastructure development and maintenance. Compounding the challenge is the increasing number of inmates, particularly foreign nationals, and the rising cost of food and fuel.

Pursuing Self-Sufficiency: Bread, Farms, and Fiscal Discipline

Amid fiscal tightening, Groenewald highlighted innovative cost-saving projects that show promise for long-term sustainability:

• Bakeries in correctional centres increased from 9 to 11 (new additions in Standerton and Pietermaritzburg)

• Over 5 million loaves of bread were produced internally, saving approximately R27.2 million

• Prison-run farms saved R130.5 million in food provisioning

• Revised 12-day meal cycles are projected to save over R200 million annually

These figures signal the DCS’s shift toward economic self-reliance through internal production and smarter procurement.

“This is a step toward becoming entirely self-sufficient,” Groenewald noted, aligning cost-cutting with responsible governance.

A Correctional System Rooted in Integrity and Safety

Acknowledging challenges ahead, Groenewald affirmed his vision for a correctional system that is efficient, accountable, and transparent. In his written remarks, he emphasized discipline, innovation, and community protection as guiding principles.

“Our mission is to do the best—doing more with less. More savings, more discipline, more creative solutions, and ultimately, greater public trust.”

He underscored that true rehabilitation must go hand-in-hand with community safety and systemic integrity. Whether through unrelenting oversight, a restructured parole framework, or innovative cost savings, the Department aims to be a pillar of justice.

Toward a Safer, More Responsible Correctional System

With plans to ramp up inspections, tighten parole standards, and expand self-sufficient programs, Minister Groenewald’s DCS strategy represents a bold push toward accountability and reform. Inmates will be treated with dignity, but the safety of communities will always come first. As South Africa grapples with broader challenges in governance and criminal justice, the correctional services sector is proving that discipline, innovation, and transparency can indeed coexist.