The KwaZulu-Natal province is the largest recipient of the school nutrition programme, with a budget of more than R2 billion to cater to over 2 million learners across 5 400 schools in the province.
However, Pacina Retail, the company awarded the tender has left learners with empty stomachs for the last three weeks.
Food supplies were not delivered to schools since they reopened after the Easter holiday, leaving more than 5 000 learners without a daily meal, and having to concentrate on empty stomachs.
Some schools were even forced to send learners home early as a result.
The food crisis has raised many concerns and questions on why the tender for the feeding programme was awarded to one supplier and not multiple suppliers as in previous years.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) in the province has noted grave concern with regards to the non-delivery of food items.
SADTU KZN Provincial Secretary Nomarashiya Caluza, explains that school staff and management have indicated that the crisis is still prevalent adding that while some schools are receiving supplies, it is not enough to feed all learners.
In some schools we find what is delivered is not in a good state for learners to be fed and that is why we are calling on the Department of Education to immediately intervene.
According to the KZN education department, the disruption to the school nutrition programme had occurred because the appointed service provider had encountered logistical challenges.
Amid the contractors termination, opposition parties in the province have welcomed the announcement and said the department and the service provider should be held accountable for their actions.
ANC Media Briefing
Speaking at a media briefing at the ANC provincial offices in Durban on Wednesday (26 April 2023) ANC KZN secretary Bheki Mtolo announced that actions will be taken to save the programme.
"Over the past few days, the people of this province, across all racial lines - the old and young - have collectively stated that there are problems associated with the National School Nutrition Programme," said Mtolo.
Mtolo says the ANC met with MEC Mbali Frazer "to go through submissions from the people of this province".
We have received submissions from stakeholders in education, traditional leadership, religious leaders, political leaders and youth formations - all ventilating their concerns about the manner in which the NSNP is being rolled out.
He noted that the MEC gave feedback based on her assessments of the rollout of the programme during visits to a number of schools.
"After the submission from the MEC we have agreed that it is evident that the programme is near to a total collapse and drastic measures must be taken," he continues.
Mtolo described the nutrition programme, not as an act of charity, "but a bold step to achieve social justice for the most vulnerable in our society".
The department stated that it was in the process of informing retailers and warehouses that previously stocked food supplies for the programme of the abrupt change in circumstances so that they could be ready for the unexpected surge in demand.
