House Chairperson, I thank hon Ndlovu for the question he has posed. The Department of Correctional Services entered into a contract with a service provider in 2005-06 with a view to the provision of nutrition services to inmates in our biggest centres in eight management areas in our country. This was occasioned by the rapid overcrowding and the increase in inmates in these major centres during the period mentioned above in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
These facilities accommodate approximately 47 421 inmates, which represents 41% of the current inmate population in the country. After a decision was taken to in-source nutrition services, structures were put in place to ensure that the department moves towards the insourcing of nutrition services for the management areas concerned. The contract in its current form expires in 2013.
However, the termination will be dependent on the state of readiness of all management areas identified above. This would be monitored on a monthly basis. The key issues we have regarding the impact on nutrition services are the verification and auditing of all the assets of the current service provider, cost and functionality and value for money for the Department of Correctional Services.
The training of offenders and officials earmarked to provide services in accordance with industry best practice and accreditation and the refurbishment of kitchens must be completed according to the required standards. However, this is hugely dependent on the third party's involvement in the proposed upgrades, namely Public Works, which also depends on contractors.
As agreed with the portfolio committee, the Department of Correctional Services is committed to providing progress reports on measures of insourcing nutrition, which will determine the way forward with the current service provider's contract. The report will include, among others, reports of the department's preparation with regard to contracts for perishable and nonperishable products.