Almost 90% of service providers taking part in the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) in KwaZulu-Natal have received their outstanding payments, the organisation representing them said on Wednesday.
The remaining service providers are scheduled to receive their payments on Friday, resolving the three-month payment delay and averting a threat by suppliers to stop the programme with potential catastrophic consequences for the thousands of children who benefit from the scheme.
The KZN spokesperson for the NSNP suppliers, Thabang Mncwabe, said the association was still preparing to go to court to avoid a repeat of the non-payment saga.
“The issue is not resolved, because the Department of Education pays the suppliers only after we raise our concerns. It must also be noted that the association has instructed its legal team to compile an indictment to hold the accounting officer and every official involved directly and indirectly liable,” said Mncwabe.
Earlier this week, the service providers threatened to halt food deliveries in schools due to delayed payments. In Ugu District, about 22 service providers did not supply food to schools for the school nutrition scheme.
Mncwabe had said that many service providers had not received payment for three months, which led to many getting into debt and facing property repossessions.
On Tuesday, KZN MEC for Education Sipho Hlomuka, responding to the issues with the school nutrition scheme, emphasised that there was no budgetary crisis, but some disputes stemmed from submitted invoices. Hlomuka urged unpaid service providers to engage directly with the department rather than disrupting school operations.
The school nutrition programme currently provides meals to more than 2.4 million children in 5 405 schools in KZN.
The programme has been linked to significant improvements in school attendance and academic performance, particularly among learners in rural communities. For many learners, the school meal is the only full, nutritious meal they receive daily.
A teacher in a school in Newcastle said their school is in a very rural area with most children depending greatly on the school meals. On Monday, her school was one of those affected by non-supply.
“Our supplier had alerted us that they could not deliver the food until they are paid. We were happy to hear that the situation has been resolved and we have received food for our learners.”
“Most of our learners depend on the feeding scheme as they come to school on an empty stomach. This food becomes their first meal of the day, so it is very important that the department takes the issue of payments with suppliers seriously.”
The Mercury