How the Correctional Services plans to allocate R1. 2 billion for prisoner food provision
The Department of Correctional Services has placed the provision of food for prisoners as one of the top four cost drivers of its budget after compensation of employees, property payments, and public-private partnership support.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
The Department of Correctional Services has allocated R1.2 billion for the provision of food for its more than 100,000 prisoners in the 2025/26 financial year, Minister Pieter Groenewald said.
Responding to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Betty Diale, Groenewald said the department spent R1.4 billion on the provision of food on prisoners in 2023/24 financial year.
The amount had increased to R1.5 billion in the last financial year that ended in March 2025.
'For the 2025/26 financial year, the department allocated R1,286,972,000 for the provision of nutrition to inmates,' he 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
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
In its 2025-2030 strategic plan, the department places the provision of food for prisoners as one of the top four cost drivers of its budget after compensation of employees, property payments, and public-private partnership support.
The document puts the provision for food to the tune of R952,975.
Groenewald also said the department planned to maximise the utilisation of the services of the prisoners to produce food for themselves, to enable the department to redirect funds to other essential programmes.
He said the prisoners will participate in the production workshops in agriculture to maximise their skills utilisation for bread and agricultural production for their ration.
'The self-sufficiency and sustainability programme in the department is centred around offender development, through the provision of work opportunities to offenders in bakeries and agriculture. Expansion of bakeries and agricultural projects towards an increase in offender skills utilisation for food production,' he said.
The department's strategic plan document states that the department wants to become self-sustainable through activities such as those in production workshops, bakeries, agriculture, skills development, formal education and training, as well as through arts and culture.
'The department will expand marketing of production workshops' products and services to other client departments to improve revenue generation.'
Meanwhile, Groenewald revealed that the cost per capita per inmate incarcerated for the 2025/26 financial year is R462.13 per day.
Asked how his department managed financial implications for imprisonment of foreign nationals, he said there were 13,181 sentenced foreign nationals in prisons as at May 4 this year.
'The total cost to accommodate 13,181 sentenced foreign nationals on 4 May 2025 was R6,091,335.53 per day.'
He stated that foreign national prisoners were not a separate category of inmates.
Groenewald added that there were currently no bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries to transfer sentenced foreign national prisoners to serve in their countries of origin.
'The DCS is in consultation with the South African Police Service, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, and Department of International Relations and Cooperation to formalise a South African procedure to inter-state transfer of offenders.'
mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
19 minutes ago
- IOL News
Celebrating educated young black farmers
Lizzy Nyathi is a member of the youth network ACTIVATE! Change Drivers who used a seedling donation by the network to plant a business that has grown its fruits and influence in many communities, and as a supplier to many retail stores. Lisima Farming Project employs four permanent staff who work at the farm and four seasonal labourers. Her story may not have drawn the attention of the Oval Office on 21 May; however, her commitment to sustainable farming and developing the next generation of young African farmers is adding to the good South African story of the immeasurable role of agriculture Lizzy Nyathi is a member of the youth network ACTIVATE! Change Drivers who used a seedling donation by the network to plant a business that has grown its fruits and influence in many communities, and as a supplier to many retail stores. An educated black female farmer, she is from Mpumalanga and the director of the Lisima farming project (Lisima Trading and project) that is based in the Bushbuckridge Municipality, in a small village called Welverdiend. Educated and passionate about sustainable farming Lizzy holds a degree in agricultural management from the University of Limpopo. For Lizzy, the idea to farm was born during her years as a student, and it grew its legs when she began to facilitate agricultural programs that focused on plant production and horticulture. Through her friends and family's support, she managed to raise funds to the sum of R50,000 to start crop farming. In 2023, she cleared 1ha (hectare) out of 3 and fenced it and started producing from it and ultimately made her first sale in August 2023 to Lebamba Hoedspruit. Nearly two years later, Lizzy has never looked back and recounts both challenges and opportunities that farming has brought her way. Some of her achievements include being a local crop supplier at Spar, Makhoma, Roots, Boxer, Lebamba, Street vendors, community members and several game lodges. Farming requires you to innovate As a small-scale farmer, Lizzy reflects on the challenges of having sufficient resources to meet the demands and make a profit. 'Sometimes our crops get affected when there are seasonal changes, but I kept it up throughout the whole year. With me now supplying the game lodges, I had to consider planting special crops and herbs. I then realised we, as small-scale farmers, incurred so many losses in our production due to an unplanned production system', Nyathi. 'We also tend to have more losses of products like tomatoes because they have a short shelf life. I came up with a way of preserving it for a different function. Now we are happy to say we also produce sun-dried tomatoes, pepper sauce and basil pesto, which we supply to many game lodges, and we also make spices from the herbs we plant on the farm. Some of these dried herbs are used on our processed products', she adds elated. 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 Zamayirha Peter is an Advocacy Communications Specialist with over eight (8) years of experience in multimedia journalism and communications. Image: Supplied Giving back to those in need Lizzy's approach to farming has been multifaceted and comprised of dynamic interventions to get to her bottom line. Lisima Farming Project not only focuses on growing crops and livestock but also provides a space to teach the next generation of farmers and gives back to the communities that support the business through their social investment project. 'Some of our products are allocated to those in need. We go into households that are without food, and schools that cater for minor kids, such as creches, and we have a program in the community that annually gives Christmas hampers to the needy households on Christmas Day', Nyathi. For Lizzy, farming does not begin and end with what you plant, but with your impact at the community level. 'As a business, we comply with the South African Good Agricultural Practices (SAGAP) standard, and we are HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point) certified', Nyathi. 'For us, farming is not just about production, but we also ensure that we produce food that is healthy to consume, we minimise the use of agrochemicals, and in any way possible, we avoid them altogether', she adds.
eNCA
4 hours ago
- eNCA
Employees charge utility R3bn for overtime
JOHANNESBURG - Eskom is bleeding cash at an alarming rate. Its financial report reveals over R10-million in board fees and R3-billion in overtime was paid out. Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa was replying to a Parliamentary question from the EFF. Energy expert Mohamed Madhi said there are a number of factors relating to overtime.
IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Internal turmoil in uMkhonto weSizwe Party following Shivambu's dismissal
Former uMkhonto weSizwe Party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu is planning to establish his own political party. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers While uMkhonto weSizwe Party's (MKP's) national leadership has remained mum on the way forward for the organisation after secretary-general Floyd Shivambu's axing, an open letter from its eThekwini region is demanding urgent, drastic action. Former president Jacob Zuma's MKP dismissed Shivambu earlier this month over an unsanctioned trip to fugitive Malawian self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri. Barely two weeks after his sacking, the former EFF deputy president announced plans to establish a new political party while he insisted he would remain a member of the MKP. 'I'm saying that we are going to consult with the people of South Africa, and if uMkhonto weSizwe believes that going to listen to people violates that constitution, then it will tell me that,' Shivambu said. In a scathing rebuke of MKP this week, Shivambu made serious allegations of misappropriation of funds by some party leaders and involvement in illegal activities such as drug abuse. The open letter from a member in the eThekwini region calls for the immediate suspension of MKP MP and chairperson of the southern caucus of the Pan-African Parliament, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, for her alleged involvement in mismanagement of funds and undue influence on the party's decision-making processes. It also calls for national spokesperson and MP, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, to be suspended for any potential involvement in the party's internal conflicts and power struggles. According to the letter, MKP head of presidency Magasela Mzobe should also face suspension for any role he may have played in the alleged mismanagement of party funds or internal conflicts. Shivambu is also not spared as the call for suspensions extends to him as well for his role in the alleged mismanagement of party funds and his recent public allegations that have brought the party into disrepute. On Thursday, Shivambu said R7 million was being withdrawn from party coffers and that Zuma was surrounded by political scoundrels abusing his kindness and sometimes gullibility. The letter also states that there is a lack of transparency and accountability in the MKP, as the alleged involvement of Zuma-Sambudla and her associates in the mismanagement of funds is unacceptable and has not been adequately addressed. It further added that Zuma-Sambudla's undue influence, as well as her cabal, on the party's decision-making processes is concerning and may undermine its principles. Additionally, there is policy confusion, which is shown by the recent controversy surrounding Morocco. The letter added that the issue of Morocco is a prime example of how decisions are being made without consulting ordinary members and that this policy position has never been discussed. 'The MKP's revolutionary duties should not be compromised by the ego-based politics and self-importance of a few individuals,' reads the letter. The party's national leadership has been urged to take swift action to address the concerns raised and allow the organisation to continue its mission to serve the people. 'If President Zuma chooses to prioritise these individuals over the organisation, he must be prepared to face the consequences, including the potential loss of public support,' the MKP is warned. The party has been accused of being more focused on personal gain and power struggles rather than its revolutionary duties. Zuma-Sambudla, Ndhlela, and Mzobe did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday. Meanwhile, party on Saturday announced nine new MPs, including former member of the ANC, EFF, and UDM, Khanyisile Litchfield, and another erstwhile EFF member and Zuma ally Nkosentsha Shezi. The new MPs, who include Lungisani Shangase, Bhekumndeni Mtolo, Zibuse Cele, Siphetho Mkhize, Philisande Mkhize, Noma Buthelezi, and Gift Motaung, will be sworn in on Wednesday in Parliament. [email protected]
