Correctional Services Minister Dr. Pieter Groenewald has announced the continued expansion of the department’s inmate-run bakery programme, aimed at reducing outsourcing costs and promoting self-sustainability within South African correctional facilities.
Speaking at the launch of a new bakery at Westville Prison in Durban, Groenewald said the initiative has already saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of rands and will continue to grow as part of broader cost-cutting and rehabilitation efforts.
‘Self-sufficient’
“This bakery alone will save R3 million annually for the taxpayer. Across all self-sufficiency projects last year, we saved nearly R500 million,” Groenewald said.
To date, 13 bakeries have been rolled out across various prisons, with plans to expand further.
At Westville, 50 inmates work in shifts to produce more than 3 800 loaves of bread daily, at a cost of R8 per loaf – significantly lower than the R23 per loaf paid to private service providers.
Promoting Skills and Reintegration
Beyond cost savings, Groenewald highlighted the rehabilitative impact of the programme, with inmates gaining valuable skills to aid reintegration into society post-incarceration.
Mlindeni Xaba, one of the inmates working in the Westville bakery, expressed gratitude for the opportunity.
“I’m thankful to the officials who helped us make better choices. Now I have the skills to open a business once I’m released and support my family,” Xaba said.
Broader Self-Sufficiency Push
The bakery programme forms part of a wider self-sufficiency strategy that includes vegetable farming, abattoirs, and tree nurseries within correctional facilities.
Groenewald noted the significance of these projects amid rising operational costs and a budget reduction of R11.7 billion over the past five years.
“We’ll continue enhancing self-sufficiency to lessen reliance on the state and ensure inmates leave with real skills,” he said.
The Department of Correctional Services plans to scale these efforts further, with long-term goals of fully internalising food production and expanding vocational training opportunities for inmates.
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