The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has backtracked on a statement about the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP). Picture Henk Kruger/African News Agency (ANA).
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education says more than two million school pupils will continue to receive their meals at school following confusion after an incorrect statement was released by them earlier this week.
“The Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal wishes to assure learners, parents, NSNP service providers, members of the public and all educational stakeholders that the implementation of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) will continue as normal in all benefiting KZN schools when the second term resumes on April 2. Despite the miscommunication in relation to Circular No. 33 of 2024, the Department hereby confirms that 2 445 466 learners in 5 446 schools will continue to receive nutritious meals in all school days. This includes the provision of breakfast meals in primary and special schools that was introduced in April 2023,” read a statement released on Wednesday.
KZN MEC for Education, Mbali Frazer expressed her disappointment that “some opportunists are now using this progressive programme to grandstand in an attempt to score cheap political points”.
“The National School Nutrition Programme is aimed at ensuring that learners from disadvantaged backgrounds are able to access their constitutional right to education as part of government’s commitment of securing the future of every child in South Africa,” said Ms Frazer.
Dr Imran Keeka, MPL - DA KZN Spokesperson on Education, said the recent NSNP funding debacle within KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Education further highlighted the disconnect between the MEC and her Head of Department, Nkosinathi Ngcobo.
“It also highlights the lack of political stewardship that saw millions of KZN learners left to starve last year during a NSNP tender debacle, that the programme is still reeling from. While the DA notes the MEC's withdrawal of the plan to cease feeding almost 125 000 learners, the fact is that the DoE’s dire financial state, poor management of the NSNP and acrimonious relationship between the MEC and her department have now been laid bare. That the DoE was prepared to stop feeding such a large number of learners – and not just planning to do so but also issuing a notice that it would do so - is not surprising, given that the DoE’s wheels are falling off as a result of current internal politics,” said Dr Keeka.