PICS: Schoolkids fed 'rotten' food!

CALLS for a swift and thorough investigation into the KZN school nutrition programme mess are growing louder.  

This is because some schools in the province have not cooked food for the kids because they have not received food from suppliers since the schools returned from the Easter holidays. 

Schools in Ugu, Zululand, uMzinyathi, and King Cetshwayo districts have not received food groceries and some of the schools that have managed to receive their food have received rotten food.

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If not, the expiration date will soon be up. While the department of Education claims to be working around the clock to solve the problem, local parties are making efforts to donate food to schools.

On Friday, 21, April, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) chairman Thami Ntuli led a delegation to Mandlenkosi Secondary School at Lindelani in Durban to donate food to the school, as it is one of the schools that have not received food.

He said that the founder of the party, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, could not turn a blind eye to the crisis faced by the children at the school. Buthelezi took money from his own pocket and bought the school enough food that would last them for a month. 

Some of the rotten apples and cabbages that were delivered in one of the schools.

Some of the rotten apples and cabbages that were delivered in one of the schools.

The Inkatha Freedom Party chairman, Thami Ntuli, (in suit and tie) led delegates to Mandlenkosi Secondary school to donate food parcels.

“Our children are not eating at school because the Department of Education has not followed the tendering procedure. We are calling for a full investigation and that action must be taken against those behind the failure of this programme,” said Ntuli.

Democratic Alliance (DA) education spokesman, Dr Imran Keeka said the party is demanding answers from Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube after the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) confirmed that it is also preparing to investigate contracting procedures related to the awarding of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) in the province.

The ANC at national level released a statement that reads: “The ANC has been briefed about developments and we welcome the National Department of Basic Education’s comprehensive investigation on this concerning matter.

“ANC wants blockages related to the school nutrition programme addressed with utmost urgency and for those responsible for wrongdoings to be held accountable.”

The ANC in the province will hold a press conference on the issue on Tuesday, 26 April, at the party's provincial headquarters in Durban.