JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Correctional Services has been paying R3,735.32 for gravy powder, despite it costing just R920.
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee has also found that the department paid R726.57 for a litre of cooking oil that costs R29.06.
The controversial food supply contract, which raised serious concerns, was set to run for five years.
Correctional Services officials appeared before the committee on Tuesday to explain how such a contract was awarded without proper financial checks on food ingredients.
"There must be some consequence management," says portfolio chairperson Kgomotso Ramolobeng.
READ: Correctional Services | Parolees warned against violating conditions
The committee found that the supplier had, for example, charged the department over R3,000 for items that cost R920 in bulk.
Ramolobeng said some officials are already facing disciplinary processes, while those suspected of collusion with suppliers are under investigation.
"It is a system failure within the supply chain management, and it exposes weaknesses that are there," says Ramolobeng.
"There are not enough cost controls that they have put in the system," she adds.
Correctional Services officials told Parliament that prices have since been adjusted, with some items showing sharp reductions.
The contract has since been cancelled, and new pricing will be implemented from July.