“I will look into this as a priority to ensure there are no more blind eyes in prison. We will have to deal with this matter. If we don’t solve it now, it will escalate. We have zero tolerance for corruption.”
Groenewald said Banks was charged with illegal possession of a cellphone.
After that video, Banks was moved to a maximum security facility and another video of him apologising was released.
“Now I’m suffering,” he said in the video which he appeared to have been forced to record.
Correctional services top brass conducted a raid at the prison on Thursday.
During his department’s budget vote debate in parliament, Groenewald raised concern about the budget cut in his department, saying it could affect security in prisons.
“The effect of these cuts is severe. The provision of security equipment is compromised, we will have to do more with less. This will require innovation, discipline and commitment,” he said.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Groenewald said the department needed funds to develop technology that would stop cellphones having connectivity in prison.
“We need hi-tech equipment when we talk about cellphones in our prisons where we can cut off the signals, but we can’t buy it now. I will take this up further.”