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IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Allegations of tender rigging in KwaZulu-Natal's National School Nutrition Programme tender process
The National School Nutrition Programme's tender process in KwaZulu-Natal faces serious allegations of rigging and political interference, prompting calls for immediate suspension and an independent investigation. Image: Pixabay THE National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) tender process in KwaZulu-Natal has come under intense scrutiny, with the service providers' association is calling for its immediate suspension. The NSNP Association has made allegations that the tender has been rigged to benefit allies of KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka. The Association has said it is consulting its legal team and will be reporting the matter to the Public Protector. Asked about the allegations yesterday, KZN Department of Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said the department had only published the 'intention to award', which is one of the stages required in terms of the bidding process. 'Those who have issues may raise them following the procedure as stipulated in the tender documents,' Mahlambi said. 'We are noting the issues as they are raised, and the relevant structures will deal with them accordingly,' he said. The association said the current NSNP tender process had been 'marred by serious allegations of tender rigging and political interference'. It claimed the process had been manipulated to serve the political campaign interests of Hlomuka, with a leaked list of allegedly pre-selected service providers having surfaced weeks before the tender outcome was published. 'That list was confirmed when it was issued on the department's website last Friday,' said the association's spokesperson Thabang Mncwabe. 'This really shows that this process has been flawed. It had political influence.' The association said it is in possession of evidence to support its claims and also alleged that supply chain management procedures were deliberately undermined. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The association has called for the immediate cancellation of the current tender and for an independent investigation by the Special Investigating Unit and National Treasury. It has also urged all service providers who did not receive contracts to lodge appeals with the provincial treasury. 'We are currently in consultation with our legal team for a way forward,' said Mncwabe. 'We have instructed them to write to the Public Protector.' In addition, the association wants investigators to examine connections between awarded companies and the MEC, along with his close political associates and relatives. Mncwabe said names would be made public 'at the right time, at the right platform, through our legal team.' The association said if constitutional and ethical standards continue to be violated, the association would not hesitate to take the matter to court. 'No one is above the law. 'The NSNP is a national programme designed to eliminate hunger, not a political tool to buy votes or consolidate power.' The KZN Premier's Office was also contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication. THE MERCURY
IOL News
14-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Basic Education Minister Gwarube to review school feeding programme in a bid to tackle challenges
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said the National School Nutrition Programme is set for a comprehensive review. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has announced plans to review the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) to ensure it is managed efficiently and provides quality food to pupils. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube informed the members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) recently that her department intends to review how the programme is managed going forward amid concerns about dysfunctionality. The minister's revelations have been welcomed by suppliers in KwaZulu-Natal, who stated that there are serious challenges in the programme, especially regarding the selection of suppliers. The minister said, 'We are reviewing the models used by provinces to implement the National School Nutrition Programme to improve efficiency, financial management, and accountability in how this programme is implemented. 'Through better project management and grant monitoring, we aim to ensure that every allocation strengthens teaching and learning outcomes,' the minister said. The department said in a statement that the School Nutrition Programme is funded at R10 billion, feeding over 9 million pupils every day. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading It was not immediately clear what specific changes the minister seeks to implement in the programme. The previous administrations had discussed possibly centralising the tender process, with one main supplier being responsible for food delivery. This approach was attempted in KZN but resulted in disastrous consequences, where the supplier failed to deliver meals, leading to children not being fed. The programme faced other challenges in the province. This year, suppliers have expressed concerns about non-payment for services, stating that the rates paid do not adequately cover the food they are required to deliver to schools Expanding on the possible changes in the programme, ministry spokesperson Lukhanyo Vangqa stated that the minister has asked the department to examine the distribution models used in the provinces. The aim is to identify areas where greater efficiencies can be achieved through economies of scale, to remove hyper-centralisation, close gaps that lead to corruption, and improve the quality of food delivered to learners. 'Numerous reports have highlighted challenges with the NSNP, including food that was not delivered on time to various schools, allegations of corruption in some provinces, and issues with the quality of food in certain areas. The minister is currently conducting a review, and it is only after she has received the data from that review that she can evaluate which models would work best in different contexts,' he said. Thabang Mncwabe, a representative of the NSNP Service Providers Association in KZN said they noted the minister's report on proposed improvements for the scheme. But he said all role players, including the leaders of the industry who have been consistently calling for the transformation of the NSNP should be heard during the review process. He added that they were concerned with the processes followed for the NSNP tender in KZN and called for provincial treasury to halt the appointments to be published on Friday pending due diligence. Sakhile Mngadi, the DA spokesperson on Education, said they fully supported Gwarube's commitment to reviewing the implementation models of the National School Nutrition Programme. 'In KwaZulu-Natal, the recent failures of the programme—marked by food shortages, irregular suppliers, and poor oversight—have exposed deep systemic weaknesses. Thousands of learners were left hungry due to financial mismanagement and lack of accountability. 'A full review is essential to ensure that provinces prioritise both value for money and nutritional quality. This programme is a lifeline for over 9 million children across South Africa. In KZN alone, it supports over 2 million learners daily. 'We cannot allow incompetence or corruption to undermine this critical intervention. Improved models must include stricter supplier vetting, real-time monitoring, and decentralised decision-making where appropriate. The goal must be to ensure that every child receives a meal—every day—without delay, waste, or abuse. We will support and monitor this process closely,' he concluded. THE MERCURY
IOL News
03-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Rising food prices jeopardise school nutrition programme for millions of learners
Services providers who provide food for schools' feeding schemes say the rising cost of food is impacting on their businesses. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives The National Student Nutrition Programme (NSNP) Service Providers Association has raised alarm over the rising prices of zero-rated food items, warning that the increases threaten the sustainability of the feeding scheme programme and could leave millions of schoolchildren without their only nutritious meal of the day. Spokesperson Thabang Mncwabe said the association had noted with deep concern recent reports indicating a significant increase in the prices of zero-rated food items, despite these products being exempt from Value-Added Tax. "According to the latest data, the average cost of key zero-rated staple foods including maize meal, brown bread, and samp has risen by over 4.1% in the past year," said Mncwabe. "The cost of a basic food basket has increased by R113, putting pressure not only on households but also on NSNP service providers who are mandated to deliver nutritious meals daily to millions of learners under stringent fixed-budget contracts." Mncwabe said the rising prices were having a direct and adverse effect on service providers. He explained that many of them are working within contracts that do not make provision for inflationary escalations or economic shocks. As a result, service providers are forced to either absorb the additional costs, compromising business sustainability, or reduce meal quality and portions, which undermines the objectives of the NSNP. He warned that if the issue is not urgently addressed, it may lead to service disruptions, delayed deliveries, and in the worst-case scenario, the complete withdrawal of service providers. "Such outcomes would have devastating consequences for the education and wellbeing of millions of learners who rely on the NSNP for their only nutritious meal of the day." Mncwabe called on the Department of Basic Education, the National Treasury, and other relevant stakeholders to urgently review the current pricing model and implement inflation-linked contract adjustments. He also appealed for emergency funding to cushion providers against further economic volatility and urged engagement with the Association to develop a sustainable pricing and procurement framework. He said the Association also supports exploring community-based procurement from local producers and farmers to improve cost-effectiveness and support local economies. "The NSNP Service Providers Association remains committed to the core mission of ensuring that no child goes to school hungry," said Mncwabe. "We reiterate our willingness to work collaboratively with government, civil society, and industry experts to develop lasting solutions to the challenges posed by rising food costs." THE MERCURY
IOL News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Funding crisis in KZN Education Department, R900m pledged 'not enough'
Sadtu provincial secretary Nomarashiya Caluza says all outstanding allocations need to be paid. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives The R900 million pledged by the provincial government to tackle the funding crisis in the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department is insufficient to deal with all the outstanding issues plaguing the province's schools. This is according to a political party and labour union who said yesterday that more funding was needed. One source claimed that an additional R700m was needed. Last week, the provincial government committed to providing R900m for schools and for norms and standards funding after labour unions downed tools, which led to the disruption of exams at some schools. There had been reports that, as a result of the failure to disburse the funds, some teachers have been using their own funds to pay for school operations. Some school principals have claimed they are borrowing money to run school operations. This failure comes amid concerns that the numerous budget cuts by the national government have crippled the department financially. KZN Premier Thami Ntuli had said R900m has been secured to clear outstanding norms and standards payments, with disbursements to schools expected within three weeks. He also said the filling of teaching posts and timely payment of permanent and substitute educators would be prioritised, compensation for Grade R practitioners will be reviewed, and payments to National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) service providers will be expedited to ensure uninterrupted food deliveries to schools. DA spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi noted the announcement from the Premier's Office regarding the allocation of R900 million to schools for norms and standards funding but said it was not enough. This funding is needed for operational costs, including the purchase of stationery, cleaning materials and to pay for municipal services, including water and electricity. He said close to R700 million additional funding was needed to deal with all the issues. 'While this is a step in the right direction, it is nowhere near enough to address the real crisis. The Department of Education is sitting with unpaid accruals, and hundreds of schools across the province are struggling to function due to months of delayed payments,' Mngadi stated. He also said that the protest by teacher unions, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), had disrupted exams in some schools. 'Sadtu's action has disrupted primarily rural districts, with some exams being cancelled. The department isn't forthcoming about when the matter will be resolved.' Sadtu has warned that its members will continue with its work-to-rule campaign and union members will work the seven hours a day they are contracted to work. Teachers, especially those who teach grade 12, also hold extra morning, afternoon and weekend classes, which they are not paid for. Sadtu provincial secretary Nomarashiya Caluza commented, 'The money (R900m) is enough to cover the outstanding allocation to schools, which was supposed to be paid by May. What the union is fighting for is the allocation for May 2025 and the outstanding allocation for 2024. The union members are still working the contracted hours of 7 hours,' said Caluza. Regarding the exams, Sadtu said it has observed inconsistencies, with some schools cancelling exams while others proceeded as planned. The union said departmental leadership should provide clear guidance to ensure uniformity across all districts. The National Teachers' Union (NATU) said the intervention by the KwaZulu-Natal Premier was necessary. The union said its recent campaign, which included pickets at schools and district offices, has successfully pressured the provincial government to act on education funding. Thirona Moodley, provincial CEO of the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa, said the financial challenges in the province have a direct impact on teaching and learning. 'The silence of the department is deafening and unacceptable. The department has shown no effort to improve the current circumstances. We have no substitutes in schools, and schools are not being paid their financial allocations. How do we expect schools to function? The department has collapsed, and Napotosa calls on the DBE to urgently intervene as the province has failed. When will it be enough?' She added that there had been some disruption to exams due to the crisis, stating, 'Some schools did not have the resources to print exam papers, but I did not have many of my schools report this to me.' KZN Education Department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi stated that they are in serious engagement with Sadtu. 'There is now common ground, and we are just attending to the modalities.' THE MERCURY
IOL News
01-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
KwaZulu-Natal schools face food delivery problems due to non-payment of service providers
Service providers in the National School Nutrition Programme have warned that some KwaZulu-Natal schools will be without food for schools meals this week due to some service providers not being paid. Image: Pixabay Service providers contracted to feed KwaZulu-Natal schoolchildren have warned that some schools will not receive food deliveries on Monday, 2 June, due to non-payment of invoices by the provincial Department of Education. The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) Service Providers Association says many of its members have not been paid for April and earlier invoices despite submitting all necessary documentation, and the department has offered no formal communication or explanation for the delay. The issue of payments, either not being made or being late, have been a challenge since the start of the school year. Last month, the payment issues was also raised by the services providers. The KZN education department admitted that there had been some service providers who were not paid and said this was due to system errors. NSNP association spokesperson Thabang Mncwabe said the non-payment of some service providers "places over a million learners across the province at risk of going without food on Monday'. 'It not only undermines the constitutional rights of learners especially under Section 29(1)(a) of the Constitution, but also sets a disheartening tone for Youth Month.' The association said the department is in breach of Section 38(1)(f) of the Public Finance Management Act, which requires valid invoices to be paid within 30 days. 'We cannot allow financial mismanagement, poor planning, and a continued disregard for legal obligations to compromise the dignity, health, and education of South Africa's children,' Mncwabe said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading It called on the national Minister of Basic Education to urgently intervene and hold the provincial department accountable, while also demanding the immediate implementation of the Pretoria High Court ruling which the association affirms the rights of service providers to be paid on time. In response, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education admitted that some NSNP service providers were excluded from the most recent payment run, attributing it to technical problems related to the implementation of a new financial management system. 'The Department is affected following the implementation of the new Standard Charts of Accounts (SCOA V6), which includes a complete refreshing of the BAS technical environment,' it said. 'Whilst the Department captured all submitted invoices for the month of April and other previous months, a number of service providers were randomly omitted in the process,' it added. According to the department, the Provincial Treasury is investigating the cause of the omissions, and a special payment run has been scheduled for Tuesday, 3 June. Payments are expected to reflect by Friday, 6 June. MEC for Education Sipho Hlomuka appealed for understanding and urged schools to continue feeding learners where possible. 'We have requested that principals of schools whose service providers have been affected by this impasse humbly engage service providers to deliver food items to schools and also ensure that learners do not go hungry,' said Hlomuka. 'We call for patience and cooperation during this period of transition and frustration.' THE MERCURY
