Close to a third of Correctional Services officials suspended in the past five years were dismissed, an ANC (African National Congress) National Assembly (NA) public representative was told.

Pieter Groenewald, who took over the Correctional Services ministerial portfolio in the government of national unity (GNU) post the May election, provided an answer to Nombuso Mtolo with information starting in the 2019/20 financial year. At that time Ronald Lamola, now International Relations and Co-operation minister, headed up the Correctional Services portfolio along with the Justice ministry.

All told, starting in 2019/20 and through to 2023/24, 1 679 Correctional Services officials were suspended with 586 dismissed. The suspensions were all precautionary.

Some have not been finalised with 36 of the 357 cases reported in 2019/20 still under investigation. Similarly, there are 31 outstanding from 2020/21, 83 from 2021/22, 77 from 2022/23 and 50 from 2023/24.

Dismissals reflect termination of service, while suspensions fall into two categories. Some charges come with an automatic suspension based on the seriousness of the offence, while other suspensions are considered if the presence of the employee poses a danger to the investigation.

Groenewald’s spokesperson Euné Oelofsen said, “The minister has said on record that, by far, the majority of employees within the department are hard-working, honest employees with integrity. Incoming employees should take note of the zero-tolerance approach towards corruption. New appointments should be based on merit and persons should be fit for purpose.”