Parliament, Wednesday, 22 April 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services yesterday concluded its review of the Department of Correctional Services’ (DCS) 2026/27 Budget and Annual Performance Plan, highlighting concerns that some performance targets have been set too low, creating the impression that the department intends to over-achieve against insufficient ambitious baselines.
Committee Chairperson, Ms Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng, said the committee acknowledges the department’s constitutional mandate to ensure the safe and humane incarceration of offenders, promote rehabilitation, and facilitate their successful reintegration into society.
“The huge reduction in parolees and probationers participating in community initiatives is a red flag — from 21 295 in 2024/25 to a target of 13 113 in this financial year. This is a cause for serious concern for us. It is a significant dip in targets, and the department needs to introspect. You should either maintain the same target as in 2024/25, but you cannot set a lower one. You are now setting targets that you know you are going to over-achieve, but in essence you have regressed your target,” said Ms Ramolobeng.
Furthermore, Ms Ramolobeng said: “We are also concerned about the target relating to unnatural deaths. You have not managed to reduce these, while you have reduced targets relating to inmate injuries in your facilities. If you are able to put measures in place to reduce inmate injuries, why are you unable to put measures in place to curb unnatural deaths?”
“We are also concerned that you only highlight the number of infrastructure projects without specifying which projects these are. This makes it difficult for the committee to effectively monitor progress.”
Ms Ramolobeng added that when targets are set too low, it can create an impression of over-performance, while in reality the baseline may not be sufficiently stretching. “Are these targets accurately reflecting the level of impact you are aiming for as the Department? The committee should receive a report outlining the level of impact you are aiming to achieve when setting these targets, so that it provides clarity on the objectives you set for yourselves.”
The Chairperson said the committee acknowledges and appreciates areas where targets have increased, including in rehabilitation. The committee also noted the percentage target for youth appointments in the department over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period. “We will continue to monitor this target to ensure that you maintain the 42.2% target up until 2028/29. Nothing prevents you from exceeding that target.”
Ms Ramolobeng further noted that the committee is satisfied with the 50% employment equity target for females at Senior Management Services level, describing it as a significant improvement compared to the beginning of the Sixth Parliament, when there was non-adherence to this requirement. She emphasised that the department should not regress on this progress.
The committee also expressed concern over the allocation of resources across the department’s five programmes. While the Administration programme’s compensation of employees accounts for approximately 70% of the budget, only 20.7% is allocated to the core functions of Rehabilitation, Care and Social Reintegration. According to the committee, this raises concerns about the alignment of the budget with the department’s core mandate of correcting offending behaviour through rehabilitation.
The committee further questioned the target for overcrowding which remains at 50%, noting that overcrowding continues to be a critical issue that undermines the department’s ability to deliver on its mandate. Ageing infrastructure and budget constraints further exacerbate this challenge. The committee called for a comprehensive interdepartmental plan to address overcrowding and improve infrastructure.
Regarding social reintegration, the committee raised concerns about the real decrease of 1.48% in the budget allocation for Social Reintegration, particularly the 12.18% decrease in the Community Reintegration sub-programme. The committee said this reduction could negatively affect the department’s ability to provide parolees and probationers with the necessary support for successful reintegration.
Ms Ramolobeng said the committee will continue to exercise oversight and engage with the department to address these challenges and ensure that the DCS fulfils its mandate effectively and efficiently.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MS KGOMOTSO ANTHEA RAMOLOBENG.
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Name: Rajaa Azzakani (Ms)
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E-mail: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
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