South Africa’s Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, has ignited fierce debate in Parliament after proposing the reintroduction of corporal punishment including flogging for individuals who fail to afford bail for minor offences.
Groenewald made the controversial remarks during his address to Parliament on Tuesday, while presenting the 2025 Budget Vote and reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Citing severe overcrowding in the country’s prisons, Groenewald said South Africa is currently detaining over 104,000 inmates, far exceeding prison capacity. Of that number, around 60,000 are remand detainees still awaiting trial and nearly 2,500 of them remain incarcerated simply because they cannot afford bail under R1,000.
“We need to be realistic about our options. Flogging as an alternative to jail for minor offences could alleviate overcrowding,” Groenewald said, stirring sharp criticism and concern across political lines.
Patriotic Alliance MP Marlon Daniels took the debate further by calling for the return of the death penalty for convicted murderers.
