The MEC for agriculture and rural development in KwaZulu-Natal, Super Zuma, recently paid schools in the province a visit as part of a provincial effort to better understand school nutrition challenges. This is on the back of the shambles which saw thousands of KwaZulu-Natal children going hungry at school.
The visit formed part of ongoing school nutrition oversight visits following a special cabinet resolution held on Saturday, 29 April.
A media statement issued by the department of agriculture in the province said the resolution saw all KZN MECs visit their championship districts in a mission to conduct oversight visits in schools for the school nutrition programme (SNP).
Following the school nutrition crisis, four schools in Mbazwana in Umkhanyakude District conveyed their challenges to the MEC.
“MEC Zuma visited four schools namely Mdinwa Primary School, Malabela High School, Inkosi Zwelakhe Ngwane Secondary School, and Qomukuphila Primary School,” the statement read.
School gardens to the rescue
Zuma have hosted sessions with the school management and deployed officials to further understand challenges and possible mitigation strategies to curb food insecurity in the learning facilities.
He indicated that his department is ready to continue with the SNP for a period of two weeks according to the food available at their disposal.
“MEC Zuma further discussed the importance of One School One Garden as a tool to alleviate poverty and generate income for the schools. He reiterated the importance of having fresh food and vegetables at all times,” the department said.
More school visits loom
Throughout the upcoming week deployed officials from different government departments are expected to visit schools to ensure the success of the school nutrition programme.
The KwaZulu-Natal department of education has in the meantime communicated that it would revert back to the old method of supply and delivery of food items to schools. This means that the department will send money directly to schools that will be responsible for sourcing food items from local suppliers.
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