The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed that it appointed multiple consultants over the past two financial years, including the current 2025/26 year, citing both a lack of internal capacity and project-specific needs.
In response to a parliamentary question posed by FF+ MP Heloise Denner, the Minister of Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groenewald, revealed that consultancy and advisory services were utilised in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years, as well as from April 2025 to the latest reporting date. Expenditure on consultants totalled R61.8 million in 2023/24 and surged to R119.3 million in 2024/25. A partial expenditure of R8.4 million has been recorded so far in 2025/26.
Consultants Appointed Due to Skills Gaps
The Department admitted to hiring consultants in several cases due to “inadequate technical capacity” within its ranks. Four firms, Entsika Consulting, Kulungwana Accountants, Nexia SAB&T, and Mashudu Tinyiko Consulting, were specifically brought in under these circumstances, with cumulative spending on their services reaching over R143 million across the 2023/24 to 2025/26 period.
The Department defended the use of external consultants, stating that the appointments were informed by “the nature, urgency, and temporary scope of work required”. According to the response, a cost-benefit analysis indicated that hiring permanent staff to meet short-term or highly specialised needs would not be financially sustainable, due to the long-term commitments involved in full-time employment.
Breakdown of Key Contracts
Among the significant contracts:
-
Entsika Consulting received over R42 million across three years.
-
Kulungwana Accountants was paid more than R46 million for financial and advisory services.
-
Mashudu Tinyiko Consulting received nearly R49 million.
The services rendered by these firms included financial management, advisory support, and technical expertise not available within the department’s current staffing structure.
In addition to bridging staffing gaps, several consultants were engaged for other departmental needs. These included:
-
South African Bureau of Standards Commercial, with a R4.3 million contract spanning 2023 to 2026.
-
CSIR, receiving nearly R13.3 million for various scientific and technical services.
-
Food Safety Agency, contracted for food-related compliance across multiple facilities.
Some consultancies, such as Capic SA (R1.2 million) and Mukumba Consulting and Projects (R10 million), had contract periods stretching back to 2018 or 2019 and were still ongoing.
Legislative Compliance and Governance Roles
The Department clarified that certain expenditures, while categorised under “Consultants: Business and Advisory Services”, pertain to mandatory governance functions. These include audit and risk management committee services, which are legally required and not part of the operational consultancy contracts listed.
While the Department argues that consultancy appointments are a strategic and cost-conscious response to temporary or urgent needs, the sheer scale of annual spending and the repeated extension of some contracts raise concerns about the underlying structural capacity of the Department.
No figures were provided on how much it would cost to permanently fill the roles currently handled by consultants. However, the ongoing reliance on external providers points to persistent internal limitations that may not be addressed in the near term.
The post Consultants hired amid capacity shortfalls in correctional services Department appeared first on ProtectionWeb.
The post Consultants hired amid capacity shortfalls in correctional services department appeared first on defenceWeb.
