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The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has repeatedly stated that its main goal is the correction of offending behaviour and the rehabilitation of offenders. It is quite clear from the DCS annual report 2008/2009 that their budget is still not aligned to achieve this. It is well known that South Africa does not have enough capacity to house inmates in correctional facilities. The current overcrowding rate is 143%. It is almost impossible to rehabilitate offenders if prisons are overcrowded, as overcrowding leads to re-offending and gangsterism. Offending behaviour is also not being properly managed. Inmate tracking devices have not been installed in 12 facilities because of poor procurement processes. Each newly admitted inmate is supposed to undergo an assessment - the Correctional Sentence Plan - so that the appropriate steps can be taken to correct behaviour. Only 12 551 out of 45 034 eligible inmates (28%) have Correctional Sentence Plans, which means that prisoners are not being adequately rehabilitated and offending behaviour is not being corrected, which is why recidivism is rife. The objective of the DCS should be to release the rehabilitated inmates, so that they do not re-offend. There are 12 296 offenders who have already served minimum sentences and have not as yet been recommended for parole. Because of DCS staff vacancies, the majority of these inmates have not been able to do courses that would make them eligible for parole. In special care programs, only 21 089 inmates were involved in social work services and 3653 in psychological services. This is because there is a shortage of social workers and psychologists to assist offenders in rehabilitation. The vacancy rate for social workers is 34% and for psychologists 68%. This prevents the DCS from fulfilling its core function and the job, is simply, not getting done. The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the improved audit report and the reduced qualifying points, but an examination of the Department's financial statements show a worrying dependence on outsourced services with R698 million being spent on consultants, contractors and other services - this is more than 5% of total DCS expenditure. Of R698 million, R176 million was spent on business and advisory services alone. Minster Mapisa-Nqakula, in her foreword to the report, refers to the importance of proper management and ensuring "stability at senior management levelto ensure consistency and commitment." However, the National Commissioner is currently on suspension following a corruption investigation. Proper management is crucial if the Department is to run correctly. The DA has already requested that the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services invite the Minister to explain what steps she is taking towards addressing the issue and of the replacement or reinstatement of the National Commissioner.