Civil society organisations have been feeding children since the suspension of the National Schools Nutrition Programme under the Covid-19 lockdown. Archive photo: Brenton Geach
Maggot infested school meals to be probed in KZN
‘It brings into question how service providers are chosen’ – DA MPL commenting on reports about maggot-infested school food.
Civil society organisations have been feeding children since the suspension of the National Schools Nutrition Programme under the Covid-19 lockdown. Archive photo: Brenton Geach
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed an announcement by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Education MEC, Kwazi Mshengu that a full probe is to be conducted following ongoing reports of maggot-infested food being distributed to learners at Inanda-based Eziphembeleni Secondary School.
Mshengu’s commitment comes after the school allegedly, again this week, served rotten food as part of the National Schools’ Nutrition Programme (NSNP). The incident is the fourth to take place this year.
DA KZN Spokesperson on Education Imran Keeka said the current situation at Eziphembeleni was “intolerable” following the recent reports of maggot infested meals.
“While the problems that exist within the NSNP in KZN are well documented, the serving of rotten food has taken matters to a whole new level. It is now clear that investigations conducted by DoE officials following earlier incidents has not changed anything and we urge MEC Mshengu to get to the bottom of what is happening at this school,” Keeka said.
“We also appeal to the MEC to ensure that any further probe is conducted as a matter of extreme urgency. Food provided by the NSNP is often the only proper meal that learners receive the entire day. Yet we now have a situation, understandably, where some are boycotting meals,” he said.
The NSNP in KZN has been allocated some R1.8 billion for the project.
“When we hear of incidents such as this, it brings into question how service providers are chosen and what quality control mechanisms are in place to ensure that learners are placed first, rather than suppliers and connected individuals pockets,” Keeka said.
The MEC and his officials simply cannot allow a situation where learners are unable to focus on their studies because they are hungry. The DA will continue to monitor this matter in a bid to ensure that this is not the case.”
