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The Herald
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald
Minister wants foreign offenders to serve time in countries of origin
Foreign criminals sentenced to jail time should ideally be deported to their countries of origin to serve their terms, says correctional services minister Pieter Groenewald. He hopes the home affairs department can assist with deportations of foreign offenders granted parole. His department spends R11m a day on inmates from other countries, he told parliament's correctional services portfolio committee on Tuesday. 'The South African taxpayer foots the bill for more than 24,000 foreigners in correctional facilities. Calculated at R463 per day, this results in an expense of R11,112,000 per day. 'We are exploring various solutions, including diplomatic approaches.' Anna Molepo, the department's chief deputy commissioner of community corrections, previously told the committee the number of sentenced foreigners in South African prisons was 12,676 in January 2025, which was 12.4% of the sentenced inmate population. The committee was briefed in February on the challenges the department faced, including the legal issues that affect deportation orders and the processing of foreigners. The department said it was working to ensure the Immigration Act aligns with the relevant frameworks. On Tuesday, Dereleen James, an ActionSA MP, called for accelerated deportation policies. 'Prisoners live in relative comfort while our communities are being destroyed, broken, under-resourced and forgotten,' James said. The R463 daily cost per inmate could fund 555,600 loaves of bread, enough to feed 277,800 households with two loaves each.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Minister wants foreign offenders to serve time in countries of origin
Foreign criminals sentenced to jail time should ideally be deported to their countries of origin to serve their terms, says correctional services minister Pieter Groenewald. He hopes the home affairs department can assist with deportations of foreign offenders granted parole. His department spends R11m a day on inmates from other countries, he told parliament's correctional services portfolio committee on Tuesday. 'The South African taxpayer foots the bill for more than 24,000 foreigners in correctional facilities. Calculated at R463 per day, this results in an expense of R11,112,000 per day. 'We are exploring various solutions, including diplomatic approaches.' Anna Molepo, the department's chief deputy commissioner of community corrections, previously told the committee the number of sentenced foreigners in South African prisons was 12,676 in January 2025, which was 12.4% of the sentenced inmate population. The committee was briefed in February on the challenges the department faced, including the legal issues that affect deportation orders and the processing of foreigners. The department said it was working to ensure the Immigration Act aligns with the relevant frameworks. On Tuesday, Dereleen James, an ActionSA MP, called for accelerated deportation policies. 'Prisoners live in relative comfort while our communities are being destroyed, broken, under-resourced and forgotten,' James said. The R463 daily cost per inmate could fund 555,600 loaves of bread, enough to feed 277,800 households with two loaves each.
IOL News
a day ago
- 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.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Prison inmates bake bread to cut food costs
Prison bakeries in South Africa are helping the correctional services department (DCS) cut costs, promote self-sufficiency and sustainability and help inmates gain practical experience while they receive a daily gratuity ranging from R2 to R9. According to chief deputy commissioner Anna Molepo, the DCS operates 11 bakeries around the country, with another in Durban having begun test baking on June 23. The expansion supports the Correctional Services Act, which requires the department to be as self-sufficient as possible and run according to business principles. The department's bakeries are a practical way to reduce dependence on external suppliers and ensure each inmate receives an adequate diet. Molepo said eight new bakery sites have been identified. The department's figures show bread baked in-house cost an average of R8.74 per loaf for April and May in the 2025/2026 financial year, compared with an average external purchase price of R22.92. This price difference has led to significant savings, 'even though some bread still needs to be purchased externally due to breakdowns in bakeries, late delivery of ingredients, renovation and repairs to bakery infrastructure'.
IOL News
2 days ago
- 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.
