South Africa's Department of Basic Education refuted allegations of irregularities in the National School Nutrition Programme tender process.

South Africa's Department of Basic Education (DBE) has refuted allegations made in a Sunday Times article pertaining to the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP). DBE Director General Mathanzima Mweli stated that the article contained numerous inaccuracies, fabrications, and falsehoods, and that the DBE did not publish the NSNP tender during a period when the department lacked a Minister. The tender was published on 22 July 2024, after the new administration had taken office. The DBE followed all legal procedures and consulted with the National Treasury and a Senior Counsel to ensure compliance with the law. The modernisation aims to maximize government purchasing power and improve the quality of meals for learners, while also supporting small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and smallholder farmers as part of a Local Economic Development (LED) focus, aiming to create over 30 000 sustainable jobs and support thousands of small businesses.

August 21, 2024
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