South Africans are living in a broken country, says Correctional Services Minister Groenewald
Groenewald said the criminal justice system will have to be looked at in its entirety if the government wants to grow the economy.
Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald at the Opening of Parliament address on 18 July 2024. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald says South Africans are living in a broken country.
He said the criminal justice system will have to be looked at in its entirety if the government wants to grow the economy.
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Despite now being part of the Government of National Unity (GNU), the Freedom Front (FF) Plus leader has not minced his words on the state of the country during the debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Opening of Parliament Address (OPA).
Groenewald said South Africans must decide whether they agree with the priorities outlined by Ramaphosa in his address to Parliament on Thursday.
This includes fixing municipalities so that they can be drivers of the economy and the creation of employment.
“We must ensure that we get the best people to do the job. We must be honest with each other. At the moment, we have officials, whether they are cadre deployment, but they are not qualified to do their job, then we have people who are qualified, but they don’t do their job.”
Groenewald said the GNU presents an opportunity to restore and build the country, in line with his party’s election slogan.
“But we must also be honest. We can’t only have policies on paper. We as government – and note, I say we – have the responsibility to ensure it’s implemented.”
Groenewald said the extent of crime in the country means citizens do not feel safe in the streets.