Statement by Ciska Jordaan MP – DA Deputy Spokesperson for Basic Education:
The Democratic Alliance has raised concerns about the provision of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), a nationally funded programme implemented by provincial departments of education (PEDs). As the academic year nears its end, the growing demand to provide meals to vulnerable learners in 2026 is becoming increasingly urgent, and shortcomings in the management of the programme were highlighted during a parliamentary debate on Friday, 28 November 2025.
Despite malnutrition and stunting severely impairing the learning and developmental capacity of 28.8% of South African children, and 155 children having died in public hospitals between January and April this year, persistent delivery challenges at provincial level continue to raise alarm.
In the second quarter of this financial year, the Northern Cape Department of Education reportedly served meals to 80 000 fewer learners than in the first quarter, citing the examination period as the cause. When questioned by the DA in portfolio committee meetings in November, the province attempted to justify this by suggesting that, because meals are offered to learners in fee-paying schools, the 80 000 learners “must not have been poor” and therefore chose not to eat after exams. This explanation is misleading and dismissive of the lived realities of educators and families in the Northern Cape, a province known for its vastness, deep poverty, and schools that often operate under difficult conditions. The national department subsequently confirmed that missed meals are a recurring issue in the Northern Cape and that such lapses constitute waste.
The Northern Cape is not the only province where the NSNP has been compromised this year. KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape have experienced delays in paying service providers, issues rooted in weak monitoring, supply chain failures, poor coordination, and in some instances inflated supplier lists. The KwaZulu-Natal PED, which is under monitoring by the provincial treasury due to its financial distress, has reportedly appointed more than 1 700 food suppliers, a volume that strains its administrative capacity and undermines consistent meal delivery.
Over nine million learners depend on the NSNP, with many relying on it for their only meals of the day. In provinces where governance is sound and political will is evident, such as the DA-led Western Cape, the NSNP continues to be delivered reliably and at scale.
The DA supports the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, in her commitments to review the operational models underpinning the NSNP. Her intention to draw on best practices and address systemic shortcomings is a welcome step toward strengthening this essential programme.
The DA will prioritise strong oversight of the NSNP in 2026. We call for rigorous monitoring mechanisms and firm consequences for those who fail to meet their obligations. A missed meal is not a mere statistic or administrative lapse — it is a lost opportunity for a child to grow, learn, and thrive, and, as hospital data tragically shows, it can have life-or-death implications.