The Department of Correctional Service put inmates to work and save taxpayers millions. Image: Pexels/RODNAE Productions
Correctional service INMATES work to save taxpayers money
Department of Correctional Service put inmates to work and save taxpayers millions. I
The Department of Correctional Service put inmates to work and save taxpayers millions. Image: Pexels/RODNAE Productions
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said it continues with its offender labour programmes to save the taxpayer millions and bring some relief to the fiscus
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES WILL SAVE TAXPAYERS R163 MILLION
The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola says through the implementation of a self-sufficiency strategic framework, the department aims to save the taxpayer millions this year by utilizing offender labour at their workshops nationwide.
“This financial year, through utilisation of offender labour at our workshops, farms, art galleries, and bakeries, we will save R163 million.”
Ronald Lamola
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“Last year, the department saved R115 million by implementing the self-sufficiency strategic framework (SFSSS).
“Inmates are now producing their own food, allowing us to take off many items on our procurement list, hence these savings.”
Ronald Lamola
CORRECTIONAL SERVICE OFFENDERS PRODUCE THEIR OWN FOOD
The department of correctional services says by putting offenders to work, they save the taxpayer millions and aim to rely less on the fiscus.
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“We want correctional centres to scale production, and there should be no centre that does not produce anything,” Lamola said.
“Society embraces our work; we, therefore, cannot falter. Let us ensure that self-sufficiency becomes a success.”
Ronald Lamola
Lamola launched this programme in May 2021 in the Southern Cape, where the classrooms opened at the Oudtshoorn Correctional Centre and a pharmacy partly constructed with offender labour in George.
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Notwithstanding the aims of the SFSSS, the department is obliged to provide work opportunities to offenders.
Lamola says this is to keep sentenced offenders active as well as to provide inmates with skills for employment upon released.
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The minister said correctional services offenders are also involved in various arts and crafts projects.
These goods are produced at a market value, Lamola said.
“This also provides an added opportunity for revenue generation,” the minister said.
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