Question no: 513
Mr AT Fritz (DA) to ask the Minister of Correctional Services
(1) Whether her department makes use of private security firms; if so, how much money was spent on such firms in 2008;
(2) whether these firms are used on a contractual basis; if so, (a) how many contracts did her department take out in this regard in 2008, (b) with which firms were these contracts taken out, (c) for what specific purpose was each contract taken out and (d) what was the value of the contract in each case;
(3) why is there a need for her department to use a private security firm as opposed to state security?
Reply
(1) Yes, the department made use of one private security firm and an amount of R62,2 million was spent in the 2008/09 financial year.
(2) Yes, the firm was used on a contractual basis.
(a) Only one contract that commenced in 2005 and expired on 31 March 2009 existed. No new contracts were entered into during the 2008/09 financial year.
(b) The contract was signed with the company Sondolo IT.
(c) The contract makes provision for the staffing of Security Control Rooms from where the integrated security systems are monitored.
(d) The value of the contract over the four (4) year period was R256,9 million.
(3) With the installation of the new access control systems and control rooms in 2005, the department regarded it as the most viable option to outsource the staffing of the control rooms in terms of the transfer of risk in the case of the replacement of damaged equipment and it was the most affordable option at that stage.
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
25 August 2009
