Public Works rejects 'untruthful narratives' on prison maintenance, reveals budget shortfall
Image: Armand Hough Independent Newspapers
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has strongly rejected what it calls 'misrepresentations and untruthful narratives' presented to the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, following widespread criticism over alleged failure to maintain prison infrastructure, including in KwaZulu-Natal.
During a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services last week, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) revealed that it paid over R842 million to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) in the 2024/25 financial year for maintenance services, but claimed no work was done, prompting MPs to question whether the DCS had requested a refund.
The MPs also raised concern about the worsening state of correctional facilities, including the closure of the kitchen at Westville Correctional Service Medium A in KZN as it needs refurbishment which will cost R12 million.
However, DPWI spokesperson Lennox Mabaso said the department "rejects and takes serious exception to the misrepresentations and untruthful narratives presented before the DCS Portfolio Committee.'
Mabaso expressed that the department was 'deeply concerned' about the information presented to the committee.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
DPWI Director-General Sifiso Mdakane disputed that R842 million had been received, stating that financial records showed the amount received from DCS for accommodation charges in 2024/25 was R672 million.
'It is unfortunate to learn of this through the media when recently, the ministers of the two departments met and resolved that the accounting officers must lead a task team to resolve all the matters including payments, budget and state of facilities,' Mdakane said.
According to the DPWI, the DCS occupies 12,282 properties at a cost of R14.33 per square metre, while the approved finance model sets the cost at R53.60 per square metre — a shortfall of nearly R2 billion annually.
'The R14.33 per square metre basic user charge paid by the Department of Correctional Services is insufficient to cover any basic services related to property management, ownership, or custodianship as per the DPWI mandate,' Mabaso said.
He added that more than R520 million of the R672 million received from DCS went to municipalities for property rates, with only R152 million spent on maintenance and repairs.
'In fact, over a period of four years, the DCS has paid the DPWI R2.6 billion while the DPWI has spent R4.4 billion to service the Department of Correctional Services,' said Mabaso. 'This translates to a staggering R1.8 billion budget shortfall.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
Airports security breaches allegations prompt Acsa to suspend security chief
nside sources told Business Report that Petros was instrumental in the now backfiring decision made in March to termine contracts with all security providers, including Bidvest, Fidelity, Mafoko, Eagle Eye, Venus Securitas, and G4S in a bid to insource its security requirements by July, which failed due to lack of capacity and a proper due diligence. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers Banele Ginindza The Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has temporarily suspended its Group Executive for Enterprise Security and Compliance, Mzwandile Petros, amid growing concerns over potential misconduct linked to a R1 billion tender for Smart Security screening equipment. The suspension, announced over the weekend, follows alarming allegations suggesting manipulation of the X-ray screening contract, which allegedly left the OR Tambo International Airport vulnerable without a tactical response team. Inside sources told Business Report that Petros was instrumental in the now backfiring decision made in March to termine contracts with all security providers, including Bidvest, Fidelity, Mafoko, Eagle Eye, Venus Securitas, and G4S in a bid to insource its security requirements by July, which failed due to lack of capacity and a proper due diligence. "The South African Civil Aviation Authority had to intervene and stop the process as ACSA was not compliant and did not understand how the screener certification process works, they were issued a a R1.5 million fine for non-compliance. Regarding the failed insourcing at KSIA airport, Fidelity was called urgently back to rescue the situation." the sources said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Acsa insisted in response to enquiries on Tuesday that to preserve the integrity of this process, ensure a fair and orderly process, and not to compromise the investigation, it cannot provide any further information until the investigation is concluded. "Acsa will report back once the investigation is concluded. The day-to-day functions of Acsa will not be affected by this decision. In the interim, Mary-Ann Joubert, has been appointed to act as GE:ESC to ensure continuity and maintain operational stability," Acsa said. Internal strife at Acsa has escalated in recent months, with late 2024 reports revealing allegations of executive misconduct and nepotism. These issues have raised serious questions surrounding irregularities prevalent in procurement processes and tender awards, further fueling public demand for accountability and transparent governance. Particular scrutiny has been placed on the procurement of X-ray and screening equipment, with pictures surfacing of Petros and Group Head for Mechanical Maintenance, Peter Sibanda, visiting a bidder in Europe while possessing control over the tendering process. Such actions have spurred allegations that signal improper relationships between Acsa executives and external contractors. Accusations of Petros, a former Gauteng and Eastern Cape police commissioner, hiring former police colleagues in strategic positions in the Acsa security cluster, as well as the tactical response team, have also surfaced as insiders alleged an improper relationship between Acsa and private security contractor, Eagle Eye Security (ESS). EES national general manager for support services, Johan Badenhorst, told Business Report the company was aware that Acsa has initiated an internal investigation and therefore, considered it both appropriate and prudent to afford Acsa the requisite space and latitude to conclude its internal processes without undue external influence or interference. "It is imperative to place on record, in unequivocal terms, that at no point during the subsistence of our contractual engagement with Airports Company South Africa SOC Ltd (ACSA) did Eagle Eye Security Specialists (Pty) Ltd (EESS) vacate the OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) site without the requisite tactical support team being deployed and operationally present," Badenhorst said. According to inside sources, manipulation of the X-ray screening positions and associated services has seen workers struggle for job security as compelled to sign month-to-month contracts to defray benefits, including unemployment insurance, medical aid, bonuses and leave. Sources claim that the manipulation of X-ray screening positions has forced employees into precarious working conditions, often requiring them to sign short-term month-to-month contracts in order for the company to allegedly circumvent paying employee benefits such as unemployment insurance, medical aid, bonuses, and leave. "Because of this improper relationship between Acsa and Eagle Eye, workers are engaged on short-term contracts, which sometimes lead to overlaps in securing workers for the shifts," a source said. "There was a time in late June when the whole OR Tambo International Airport had no tactical response team because Acsa and Eagle Eye could not agree. Eagle Eye pulled out its teams, leaving Acsa's team of retired policemen. This was noted by one minister who was very angry about it." According to workers, since the installation of the X-ray and screening equipment, there has been a systematic shift in the management of security workers as both Acsa and Eagle Eye have their own quotas, which they are allegedly replacing with untrained staff. BUSINESS REPORT
The Herald
10 hours ago
- The Herald
Operations resume at Pollsmoor prison after stabbing, two-week lockdown
Operations at Pollsmoor prison in Cape Town are back to normal after a two-week lockdown triggered by the stabbing of a prison warder by an inmate on June 27, the department of correctional services (DCS) has confirmed. DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said the incident at the remand detention facility (RDF) prompted the immediate suspension of visitations and restricted access to the prison as officials worked to stabilise the situation. The lockdown was necessary to help manage the incident and assist the investigation. 'The lockdown serves as a practical approach to aid the department in monitoring the situation and to assist with the investigation which is under way,' he said. While the RDF was affected, Nxumalo clarified that operations at the medium A, medium B, medium C and female centre were not disrupted.
IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
State of South Africa's correctional facilities raises alarm over budget shortfalls
Portfolio Committee voices concerns over correctional facilities' maintenance woes Image: File The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services reiterated its deep concerns about the unsustainable state of correctional facilities across South Africa. The committee outlined that chronic budget shortfalls have rendered many facilities unable to maintain basic operational standards, threatening the wellbeing of inmates and staff alike. During the session, the committee received a briefing from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) concerning ongoing disputes related to user charges, as well as key issues identified during oversight visits to various correctional facilities. The DPWI highlighted that itemised billing, sanctioned by the National Treasury (NT), has resulted in a staggering shortfall of R24.1 billion since its implementation. This has raised alarm bells, especially as the rates approved by the NT fall significantly short of what is needed for full cost recovery. Currently, the DPWI, which serves as the landlord for government properties, receives an average rent of R23.24 per square metre from client departments. In stark contrast, the costs paid to the private sector for maintenance amount to R110 per square meter. The vast discrepancies have forced the DPWI to operate at a crippling loss, particularly concerning the properties it manages for the Department of Correctional Services. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Over the past five years, DPWI has reported a cumulative deficit of R1.9 billion, averaging losses of R376 million annually. Committee Chairperson Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng said it does not help if one has a beautiful kitchen in a centre with five or six stoves, but only one is working. "We saw that for ourselves in KwaZulu-Natal,' she added. She implored the task team to prioritise areas that require immediate attention to avert further deterioration. 'Once inmates are unable to eat or are given one meal a day, it becomes a serious challenge,' she added, stressing the critical nature of regular meal provision in correctional facilities. The committee is advocating for the continuation of maintenance efforts, urging the Department of Correctional Services to leverage offender labour for repairs. Ramolobeng emphasised the importance of filling artisan vacancies, which could potentially facilitate the rejuvenation of under-maintained facilities. In a bid to address these pressing issues, the committee has called for a meeting of all heads of departments from the DPWI, DCS, and NT to deliberate on user charge allocations that have cost taxpayers over R842 million in the current 2024/25 period. Despite these funds being allocated, a significant portion of maintenance responsibilities has been shifted back to the DCS, stirring concern among committee members regarding accountability and effective resource utilisation. Moving forward, the committee has proposed inviting the National Treasury to provide further insight into these matters, and it has mandated that regular updates be provided from the task team, which is expected to forge viable solutions for the internal conflicts and external challenges facing South Africa's correctional facilities. IOL
