Correctional Services committee slams high bread price hike

By Johnathan Paoli

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services has raised serious concerns over a sharp spike in the price of bread procured by the Correctional Services Department, warning that public funds are being unnecessarily drained by inflated supplier costs.

Committee chair Kgomotso Ramolobeng said the department now paid R22.95 per loaf (up from R13.36 in 2024), far higher than the average retail price paid by ordinary South Africans.

“It cannot be that we are paying so much. We note and welcome the input by the minister that the procedure of appointment of contractors is being re-worked, as the price is excessive,” Ramolobeng said.

The committee emphasised that while it appreciated the department’s efforts to root out corruption, urgent intervention was needed to prevent unjustifiable spending on bread for correctional centres.

During the briefing, the committee also reviewed the department’s self-sufficiency initiatives, particularly the expansion of prison-run bakeries.

These bakeries,