– DA welcomes speedy interventions by Mayor Chris Pappas to ensure uMngeni learners do not go hungry
– DA writes to KZN Education and Finance MECs over National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) disruptions
Note to Editors: Please note Sakhile Mngadi, MPL sound bites in English and isiZulu
Investigations by the DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), following recent disruptions to the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), have revealed that service providers – severely impacted by the Ithala Bank crisis – have been unable to deliver essential meals to schools in the province, leaving countless children without their daily sustenance.
The DA is deeply alarmed by these findings. The NSNP is a lifeline for approximately 9.6 million learners nationwide, with more than 2.4 million KZN learners, from 5 405 schools, reliant on these meals daily. For many, this programme provides the only meal they receive in a day. Any disruption not only threatens their health and well-being but also hampers their ability to learn effectively.
The closure of Ithala Bank has had a devastating impact on KZN’s service providers involved in the NSNP. Many depended on Ithala for financial support, and its closure has left them unable to procure and deliver food to schools. This has resulted in significant disruptions to the feeding programme, affecting the most vulnerable learners in our province.
In uMngeni Municipality, five rural schools have been severely affected;
• Lions River Primary – 200 learners
• Crystal Springs Primary – 422 learners
• Curry’s Post Primary – Approximately 400 learners
• Morton Primary – Approximately 350 learners
• Jabula Combined – Approximately 400-450 learners
This means that almost 1 800 children from these schools have been left without the meals they depend on.
In response to this crisis, the DA has formally written to both KZN’s Education and Finance MECs (view here and here), detailing our findings and urging immediate intervention to support the affected schools.
It is imperative that alternative financial arrangements are made to ensure the continuity of the NSNP and that service providers receive the necessary support to resume their critical operations.
The DA extends its sincere gratitude to uMngeni Municipality Mayor, Chris Pappas, for his proactive leadership during this challenging time. Mayor Pappas has allocated disaster relief funds to support the five affected rural schools within his jurisdiction, ensuring that learners continue to receive meals while long-term solutions are found.
As part of the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) the DA demands swift and decisive action from KZN’s government to address this crisis. There cannot be any further delays that compromise the nutrition and education of our children.
We have also submitted a formal transversal question to all KZN government departments to establish how many of their service providers bank with Ithala. This information is crucial to prevent similar disruptions within other essential services.
The well-being of our learners is non-negotiable. The DA calls on all stakeholders to prioritise the restoration and stabilisation of the NSNP to ensure that no child goes hungry and that their right to education is upheld.