Minister Gwarube urged to intervene in KZN school nutrition scandal
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal said it will submit a formal briefing document to Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, urging her to intervene in the province’s troubled National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP).
This comes in response to serious allegations of corruption involving provincial Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka and other ANC-linked figures.
DA KZN spokesperson on Education, Sakhile Mngadi, said the party welcomed the decision by Finance MEC Francois Rodgers to launch a preliminary investigation into the alleged misconduct.
The DA believes this marks a significant step toward confronting political corruption in the province’s education sector.
Mngadi said: “The MEC’s response is a vital and encouraging step in the fight against entrenched political corruption, which continues to rob many of our learners of their basic right to food.”
KZN Treasury spokesperson, Nkosikhona Duma, confirmed on Tuesday that while media reports have surfaced alleging tender fraud and bias in the NSNP, no formal representations have been received yet.
“I have noted media reports to the effect that an association of NSNP service providers plans to report allegations of tender fraud to my office for investigation. I, however, have not received any formal representations on this matter at this stage,” said Rodgers.
He stressed his commitment to ensuring fiscal discipline, saying: “Allegations of tender fraud deeply concern me. To this end, my office remains open to anyone with evidence so that this matter may be probed further.”
The DA has called on the provincial Treasury to immediately use its powers under the Public Finance Management Act to suspend any NSNP payments where irregularities are suspected.
The party is also advocating for the complete transfer of NSNP grant disbursement responsibilities from the Department of Education to the provincial Treasury to ensure clean governance and uninterrupted service to learners.
The KZN government has recently launched a digital procurement system designed to curb fraud and improve supply chain integrity. While the system is still in its pilot phase, full implementation is expected between January 2026 and April 2027.
”In the meantime, the office of MEC Rodgers remains open and ready to work with all those who want to end tender fraud and corruption in KZN,” said Duma.
“While the allegations are alarming, Treasury’s response is a moment of real progress in KZN. Accountability is no longer a distant hope – it is becoming a reality,” said Mngadi.
He further stated that if the allegations are proven true, “MEC Sipho Hlomuka must be removed from office without delay. Corruption cannot be tolerated at the expense of hungry children and the future of our province.”
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
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