The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Basic Education appointed a single service provider to handle its School Nutrition Programme, which is estimated at over R2 billion.
Previously, several suppliers based within districts would deliver food directly to schools and school nutrition programmes were meant to provide entrepreneurial opportunities to community members from where the school was located.
It is for this reason some of the former suppliers questioned why the Education Department would abandon a working system and award just one service provider a tender that is worth millions.
Approximately 5400 schools in KwaZulu-Natal were at the receiving end when this highly contested school nutrition multi-million-rand tender encountered several challenges. This took place when learners returned to the classroom, following the Easter Holiday.
In a statement, Black Sash said:
Black Sash is appalled that thousands of Kwa-Zulu Natal learners have been without food since returning to school for the second term.
The lobby group stands in solidarity with organisations calling for a probe into the tender allocation, and also demands immediate accountability and action on the matter.
One of the challenges that these schools faced include late or non-delivery of food and in some instances, rotten food sent to schools after the provincial education department introduced a new supplier and system to deliver raw ingredients to schools.
This was a difficult time for the teachers as they had to teach hungry learners, and some of them resorted to sending the learners home early because of this.
One of the parents, Bayenzeke Dlamini spoke out and also mentioned that this is affecting them as they are struggling.
Equal Education and Equal Education Law Centre have urged the Education Department to act quickly to resolve the issue, so that food delivery can resume to all qualifying learners.
Although these organisations have welcomed the interim action taken by the department to prevent learners in affected schools from going without food, they also continue to call on the department to move quickly with its investigation to guarantee it never occurs again.
A teacher union has noted grave concern with regards to the non-delivery of food items and also wants the department to immediately intervene.
Which schools qualify for the School Nutrition Programme?
The Department of Basic Education’s National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) provides daily meals to learners from poor households attending public schools.
Primary and secondary school going learners benefit from the feeding scheme programme, and this also includes special schools that are not charging school fees.
Some independent schools do also stand to benefit, but as long as they meet certain criteria, such as those declared as no-fee schools, where at least 80% of the learners come from poor households, and where the school governing body has resolved to participate in the programme.
