The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, must release to the public the findings of the investigation into the R2.1 billion KZN Schools Nutrition tender, which collapsed after it was awarded to Pacina Retail, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) said in a statement.
The IFP argues that withholding the reports raises serious suspicions that there are senior politicians which are being protected.
“We have been waiting for this report to be released for almost seven months. In May, while addressing members of the KZN Provincial Legislature during a special sitting to mark Africa Day, Premier Dube-Ncube said the government had instituted an investigation into the matter, after schoolchildren went without food for days in April,” the IFP stated.
The KZN Premier announced a full-scale investigation into the collapse of the province’s school nutrition programme following an outcry about learners going hungry or receiving rotten food. Many schools in the province had to suspend classes after the service provider failed to deliver on its mandate.
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MEC for Education Mbali Frazer said problems were created because the department had appointed a single supplier, Pacina Retail, “which was still perfecting supply systems.”
The IFP maintains that there must be consequence management, suggesting that MEC Frazer be held accountable for this scandal.
“The IFP and the public want to know what really transpired during the school nutrition saga. The blunder impacted the lives of more than two million pupils, many from impoverished families who rely on the feeding scheme.
“Further, we also call upon the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, to release her findings on the same matter, after she allegedly dispatched a team led by the Director General to KZN, as part of her investigation into the province’s school nutrition programme,” said the IFP.
The Party has been calling for the release of various forensic investigation reports since the tenure of the former KZN Premier Willies Mchunu as well as Sihle Zikalala.
