DA welcomes DBE halting R9.8 billion nutrition programme tender to single provider
This after Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube halted the issuing of a R9.8 billion tender for the feeding scheme under a single provider.
- Democratic Alliance (DA)
- Department of Basic Education (DBE)
- National School Nutrition Programme (NSPS)
Picture: © addtodsaporn/123rf.com
JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it has faith that an investigation into the multi-billion rand National School Nutrition Programme (NSPS) tender will lead to provinces being held accountable for the programme.
This after Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube halted the issuing of a R9.8 billion tender for the feeding scheme under a single provider.
The NSNP provides at least one meal a day to more than nine million learners, and the tender called for a single supplier to act as a "managing agent" for the programme, with the bidding closing this week.
In 2023, thousands of pupils in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal were left without meals.
The proposal was reportedly brought to Gwarube's attention by a whistleblower, who raised concerns over possible corruption, resulting in the minister putting the brakes on the tender and seeking legal advice.
DA national spokesperson, Karabo Khakhau: "It simply cannot be that cadres continue to eat while children starve. This is why the DA welcomes Minister Gwarube's initiative to hold the centralisation of the school nutrition programme contract. It cannot be that we have one person responsible for this tender that will cost South Africans R9.8 billion."