Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has proposed the reintroduction of corporal punishment in South Africa, citing mounting pressures within the criminal justice system.
Speaking during his department’s budget vote in Parliament on Tuesday, Groenewald raised concerns over overcrowded prisons, the incarceration of children for minor offences, and a strained correctional system struggling under financial constraints.
Severe budget cuts, he said, have hampered critical operations, including security measures and much-needed infrastructure upgrades within correctional facilities.
Groenewald argued that alternative punitive measures, such as corporal punishment, should be reconsidered to alleviate the burden on the system and improve overall effectiveness.
The proposal is expected to spark debate, given South Africa’s constitutional protections and long-standing opposition to corporal punishment in law enforcement and educational settings.