ANC statement on KZN School Nutrition Programme

24 April 2023

The African National Congress (ANC) noted with great concern problems pertaining to the KwaZulu-Natal school nutrition programme. The ANC has been briefed about developments and we welcome the National Department of Basic Education's comprehensive investigation on this concerning matter.

The intervention will be multi-pronged. It will investigate the circumstances that led to the discontinuance of the decentralised procurement method involving a multiplicity Of service providers, and preference of the central procurement method managed by a consortium that was recently appointed. The ANC wants blockages related to the school nutrition programme addressed with outmost urgency and for those responsible for wrongdoing to be held accountable. National government has already sent a team that is supporting the provincial government to ensure that food reaches all learners.

The ANC calls on the Department of Monitoring and Evaluation to ensure that the Department Of Basic Education together with the Education Department in KwaZulu-Natal work tirelessly to restore feeding in all schools in the province.

For the ANC a major and pressing priority is to ensure that learners are not compromised any further.

Issued by Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, National Spokesperson, ANC, 24 April 2023