The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) Director-General, Sifiso Mdakane, has rejected claims made at the recent meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services.
Mdakane emphasised that the department disputes the presented narratives, claiming that the public statement by the committee was based on inaccurate information.
This after the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services hassled on the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to request a refund from the DPWI after alleged failure to carry out key maintenance work despite being paid.
Poor conditions at DCS facilities
During the meeting, the committee was told that over R842-million was paid to DPWI in the 2024/25 financial year under user charges. But the DPWI has since handed over most of its maintenance responsibilities back to DCS without completing the required work.
The DCS was briefing the committee about poor kitchen conditions in correctional centres in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. These were highlighted during recent oversight visits.
The committee also heard that R1.2-million is needed to replace asbestos ceiling and extractor fan at Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre.
Water leakage and basement flooding at Johannesburg Correctional Centre were also raised. The DCS has allegedly been using pumps and repairs to manage the problem for now. However, it admitted to needing at least R1.2-billion to fully renovate the site. But it can only carry out basic daily maintenance with its budget.
Mdakane said the financial records from the DPWI show that the department did not receive the R842-million as stated. Instead, he said, the actual amount received from DCS in the 2024/25 financial year was R672-million.
Financial deficit of R2bn
“The DCS occupies 12 282 properties at a rate of R14.33 per sqm, while the approved finance model determined R2.6-billion at a rate of R53.60 per sqm. This results in an annual financial deficit of R2-billion.
“These facts have been brought to the attention of relevant officials in the DCS. The R14.33 per sqm basic user charge paid by the DCS is insufficient to cover any basic services related [to] property management, ownership, or custodianship as per the DPWI mandate,” said Mdakane.
He said of the the R672-million received from DCS, more than R520-million was used to pay municipal property rates. This left about R152-million for maintenance work. Over the last four years, DCS paid DPWI a total of R2.6-billion. This while DPWI has spent R4.4-billion maintaining DCS properties.
This, according to Mdakane, means that the department has had to cover a R1.8-billion shortfall to keep the facilities running.
Request for refund sparked response
In the 2024/25 financial year alone, DPWI says it spent R416-million on maintenance and R519-million on property rates. This while it was only receiving R672 million from DCS. This means total spending came to R936-million, which is more than what was paid.
Mdakane responded after the Correctional Services Commission-Committee suggested that DCS requested a refund from DPWI for services not rendered. It was a proposal that sparked strong reactions and public interest.
