The NSPCA has confirmed severe “cost-containment” measures implemented by the Department of Correctional Services, which are directly affecting the feeding of animals kept at the country’s 21 agricultural correctional centres. These animals – including pigs, dairy cattle, poultry, equine used in mounted units, and dogs in the Department’s canine units – are now facing critical food shortages.
A meeting was finally secured with both the National and Gauteng Regional Departments on 10 March 2025, following two postponements by the Department. During this meeting, cost-containment measures (or “budget-cuts” in laymen’s terms) were formally acknowledged. The National Director for Production Workshops and Agriculture within the Department, Elizabeth Lupele, expressed distress over the dire lack of feed at Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre earlier this month, stating that she personally witnessed pigs screaming, which she described as “traumatising to me personally”.
Inspections across the country confirmed these concerns. Animals are receiving insufficient and inappropriate feed, which is being rationed due to shortages. Previously, pigs were fed species-specific food twice daily, but they are now receiving a diluted mixture of the limited stock – only once a day.
Correctional Centres keep farm animals primarily to produce food for inmates.
Currently, for example, Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre houses approximately 1,500 pigs, yet their plan is to slaughter only 60 pigs per day. A simple solution exists: the Department must immediately reduce its livestock numbers in accordance with the available feed supply.
Our concern is for the estimated one million animals kept at agricultural correctional facilities, who are made to suffer under the guise of “cost-containment – animals who depend entirely on humans for their welfare.
The Minister of Correctional Services must intervene urgently to ensure that this issue is addressed on a national level, failing which all animals should be removed. Either way, those responsible for the neglect and suffering of animals will be held accountable.
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