KZN school meals are at risk due to non-payment of service providers

Learners in KwaZulu-Natal schools could go without meals by the end of the month, as service providers have not been paid. The service providers for the school meals under the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) have warned of this pending crisis and have urged the KZN Department of Education to do the right thing.

They said the food supplied to schools this week was either bought on credit from wholesalers or funded by the service providers' savings.

There are concerns that some schools might not be able to provide meals, as the necessary supplies have not been delivered. Other essential items that have not been delivered to some schools include stationery and cleaning supplies.

Thabang Mncwabe, spokesperson for the NSNP service providers, said although several service providers are owed payments for November, they have developed a strategy to ensure that schools will still have food even though the department is withholding payments without any explanation.

“We know that this is another plan to set up the current service providers for failure so that the disputed tender will kick in as an emergency. The service providers are ready and prepared to deliver their services in accordance with the existing contract, which has an option for a two-year extension. Food has been delivered to all schools across the province for the duration of the month while service providers are waiting for their payments.”

Mncwabe said if service providers are not paid by the end of January, schools will experience food shortages caused by the delays from the department.

“We have managed to develop a wholesale and supplier trust relationship, and with the experience we have with the department, we anticipated the non-payment and started budgeting as early as last year. The majority saved and purchased in advance, and those that have months of outstanding payments received items on credit.

“There is no communication or undertaking from the department; the intention is to make the current service providers appear incompetent so that they can justify the need for a second attempt to irregularly award the NSNP tender as an emergency. Unfortunately, they have met their match. We call for the department to ensure that all outstanding payments are made; failure to do so should result in the resignation of the accounting officer and CFO,” he said.

DA spokesperson on Education, Sakhile Mngadi, said they have been made aware that some service providers have not been paid.

"The DA rejects the Department of Education’s (DOE) reason for non-payment, blaming the treasury."

This refers to the intervention by the provincial treasury to assist the department in managing its finances, which has resulted in the department having to consult the treasury on any spending above a certain threshold.

“Years of financial mismanagement and austerity are now exposing problems that have long existed. The department would simply rob Peter to pay Paul or enter into unfunded contracts, incur accruals (debt), and use the next budget to settle. Hiding won’t help them. They are spending 92% of their budget on employee costs, and this is unsustainable,” Mngadi said.

The department spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi, speaking on the deliveries of general supplies such as LTSM and cleaning materials to schools, said: “The deliveries are ongoing.” On the non-payment of service providers, he did not comment and only asked, “Did they say why they have not been paid?”

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