New prisons will cost the taxpayer more than R5.3bn.(News)

BYLINE: SIBUSISO NGALWA

FIVE new prisons, to be built in June next year, will cost the taxpayer well over R5.3 billion.

This excludes risk costs and staff accommodation.

The Department of Correctional Services gave the portfolio committee on correctional services a snap preview of a feasibility study for the new prisons yesterday.

Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour spoke of the need to "run with it" in the building of the new prisons.

The construction of the new prisons has been a bone of contention since 2002, and has resulted in a stand-off between the committee and the department over unnecessary delays.

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