BUDGET 2005/06
Boost for police, courts, prisons
Edwin Tshivhidzo
23 February 2005
South Africa's justice, crime prevention and security cluster will get more resources this financial year to ensure the smooth running of the country's criminal justice system.
In his Budget Speech in Cape Town on Wednesday, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said an additional allocation had been made for the recruitment of more police officers and for better police pay packages.
The government plans to increase the number of police officers from 139 000 to 165 850 by 2008.
"The Department of Justice plans to appoint 40 new magistrates over the new year, and 1 000 vacancies will be filled at courts to support prosecutorial services", Manuel said.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development will also be capacitated to improve court administration and continue to modernise its information systems and strengthen court security.
"Provision has also made for the Correctional Services Department to increase the capacity
of prisons and establish a seven-day working week", the finance minister said.
The department plans to introduce a seven-day working week in order to save money - currently spent on overtime pay - for the recruitment of more correctional officials. In the last financial year alone, the department spent R916-million in overtime payment.
Manuel also announced that provision had been made for 12 000 new beds to address the problem of overcrowding in prisons. Plans are well advanced for the building of new-generation correctional centres in Kimberly, Klerksdorp, Leeuwkop and Nigel, with construction due to start in June and to be completed by March 2007.
The department is also considering alternatives such as community correctional supervision for people convicted of petty crimes
Source: BuaNews
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