3 days ago
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'.
