Latest news with #DepartmentofCorrectionalServices'
IOL News
02-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Bakeries flourish in correctional centres, saving millions for the government
The Department of Correctional Services bakery at Standerton Correctional Centre. Image: Department of Correctional Services Bakeries are proving to be a success story in eleven of the Department of Correctional Services' (DCS) centres in the country, saving the government millions each year. The DCS also announced that a bakery for Durban was commissioned on June 23 this year, for test baking purposes, adding to the 11 other bakeries that DCS has nationally, which are managed by correctional officials. The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services on Tuesday received an update from the DCS on the establishment of bakeries in correctional centres, including the cost breakdown on bread supply by external suppliers versus internal supply. The DCS stated that the construction of bakeries and the refurbishment of kitchens support self-sufficiency and sustainability. The DCS also believes that bakeries provide work opportunities to offenders, lead to offender skills development, and cost savings to the DCS. Chief Deputy Commissioner (CDC) Anna Molepo stated that each inmate must be provided with an adequate diet to promote good health, as prescribed in the regulations. She said the first departmental bakery was opened in 1992, at Kgoši Mampuru II. Since then, additional bakeries were established across six regions with the Standerton and Pietermaritzburg bakeries opened during the 2024 and 2025 financial year. Some of the bakeries that are in the planning and consultation phases, and the estimated target date of completion: Nigel (30 August 2026) Krugersdorp (30 March 2027) Helder Stroom (1 December 2026) Brandvlei (15 October 2026) Groenpunt (30 August 2026) Upington (15 September 2026) Overberg (15 September 2026) Baviaanspoort (1 December 2025) The average cost of the bread from departmental bakeries was R8,74. Molepo said that offender gratuity ranges between R2 and R9 per day. Molepo said cost savings in the 2025 and 2026 (April and May) financial year totalled R13 million while in the 2024 and 2025 financial year, the DCS estimated a R27 million saving after deducting the cost of producing its own bread with the average cost of bread purchased from external suppliers. Molepo said the bakeries do not come without challenges to the DCS. These include inadequate funding for capital construction of new bakeries and baking equipment. There are also challenges of insufficient funds for maintenance and repair of bakery structure and baking equipment, as well as for training and development along with the late delivery of ingredients. Correctional Services Petrus Groenewald said following complaints about the procurement processes referring to the bread tender, he held meetings with National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale and officials.
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Bakeries in South African correctional facilities are saving the DCS millions
Bakeries are proving to be a success story in eleven of the Department of Correctional Services' (DCS) centres in the country, saving the government millions each year. The DCS also announced that a bakery for Durban was commissioned on 23 June 2025, for test baking purposes adding to the 11 other bakeries that DCS has nationally, which are managed by correctional officials. On Tuesday, the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services received an update from the DCS on the establishment of bakeries in correctional centres, including the cost breakdown on bread supply by external suppliers versus internal supply. The DCS stated that the construction of bakeries and the refurbishment of kitchens support self-sufficiency and sustainability. Also, the DCS believes that bakeries provide work opportunities to offenders, lead to offender skills development, and cost savings to the DCS. Anna Molepo, the Chief Deputy Commissioner (CDC) stated that each inmate must be provided with an adequate diet to promote good health, as prescribed in the regulations. She said the first departmental bakery was opened in 1992, at Kgoši Mampuru II. Since then, additional bakeries were established across six regions with the Standerton and Pietermaritzburg bakeries opened during the 2024 and 2025 financial year. Some of the bakeries that are in the planning and consultation phases, and the estimated target date of completion: Nigel (30 August 2026) Krugersdorp (30 March 2027) Helder Stroom (1 December 2026) Brandvlei (15 October 2026) Groenpunt (30 August 2026) Upington (15 September 2026) Overberg (15 September 2026) Baviaanspoort (1 December 2025) The average cost of the bread from departmental bakeries were R8,74 cents. Molepo said that offender gratuity ranges between R2 and R9 per day. Molepo said cost savings in the 2025 and 2026 (April and May) financial year totalled R13 million while in the 2024 and 2025 FY, the DCS estimated a R27 million saving after deducting the cost of producing its own bread with the average cost of bread purchased from external suppliers. Molepo said the bakeries do not come without challenges to the DCS. These include inadequate funding for capital construction of new bakeries and baking equipment. Also, insufficient funds for maintenance and repair of bakery structure and baking equipment, as well as for training and development along with the late delivery of ingredients. Petrus Groenewald, the Minister of Correctional Services, said following complaints about the procurement processes referring to the bread tender he held meetings with the National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale and officials. 'We have to look at other ways to look at the price. We cannot pay R23 for a loaf of bread. That process will change. We will look at the retail prices, compliance to quality and delivery, and what the best prices are. Further meetings will be held to determine the policy on the prices. We must save money,' he said.
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Here's how much prisoners earn in Correctional Services' bakeries
Correctional Services bakeries now cover over 60% of prisoners' annual bread requirements across the country. The Department of Correctional Services' (DCS) bakeries are proving to be a valuable cost-cutting programme. DCS officials gave a presentation to their portfolio committee on Tuesday, where they outlined the programmes' growing scope. Other items on the department's cost-cutting agenda include re-evaluating the use of consultants, with a presentation explaining why external resources have been so heavily relied upon. Prison labour DCS' first bakery was established in 1992 at the C-Max facility, now known as Kgosi Mampuru II. The programme has since grown to 11 correctional facilities, with a 12th recently approved for test baking operations from June. Five of the current 11 were established in the last 10 years, but new bakeries are planned for eight more facilities, including Nigel, Krugersdorp, Brandvlei, Upington and Overberg. Production is able to cover over 60% of the bread requirements for inmates nationally. Last year it saved R27.4 million in the cost of feeding prisoners. The bakeries combined produce an average of 426 000 loaves of bread every month and are on course for a record financial year. Prisoners paid for working in bakeries These 11 bakeries provide food to almost 45 other correctional facilities and juvenile detention centres in the provinces where they are located. Bakeries require roughly 190 prisoners to work across the 11 facilities per day and each inmate is compensated for their labour. 'Offender gratuity ranges from R2 per day to R9 per day depending on the level,' DCS' presentation stated. Inflated costs of food suppliers The prison-made products are baked with ingredients sourced through a supplier bidding process, which has come under scrutiny in recent months. A recent audit flagged five food supplier deals worth R4.4 million all signed during 2024 that came at inflated costs. The department has resolved to implement new 'fair and uniform' pricing negotiations to ensure the department is getting value for money. 'The essence of the matter is to ensure a quality product, but through the most efficient and cheapest means for the department; and that should be right through the government,' stated Minister Pieter Groenewald. R70 million budgeted for consultants The department has been trimming financial fat after the Auditor-General of South Africa highlighted exorbitant fees paid to consultants. In the 2023/24, DCS paid R13.6 million to 18 consultants for a combined 225 days and the department had almost R70 million more budgeted for consultants until 2026/27. DCS explained that consultants were needed to cover a skills shortage, capacity constraints and an inability for the department to handle 'project complexity'. A reduction strategy has since been implemented which involves enhancing the department's human capacity by improving the skills of staff. 'We must be absolutely sure that when we appoint a consultant, that it is necessary, that we don't have our own expertise,' said Groenewald. 'There are certain circumstances where you have no option, but we will look very carefully into that to see what money we can save,' he concluded. NOW READ: Over 80% of sentenced inmates enrolled in corrective programmes
