Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has come under pressure to continue with the school nutrition programme for vulnerable children during the national lockdown.
This comes after five civil society organisations wrote to Motshekga on Monday asking that her department reconsider its approach to the programme.
“The continuation of school nutrition provision for learners is critical and urgent and we urge you to ensure that children’s needs are prioritised and protected in government’s plans,” reads the letter.
The call was made by Equal Education, the Equal Education Law Centre, SECTION27, the Centre for Child Law, and the Children’s Institute.
Their plea comes after the Western Cape Education Department started with the programme last week and fed 100,000 children despite criticism from Sadtu and threats of litigation from another political party.
The WCED, which described its initiative as a humanitarian mission, said that it has put measures in place to ensure social distance was maintained and the safety of pupils and teachers.
In their letter to Motshekga, the organisations said there was a pressing need to ensure pupils have access to food in the wake of the extension of the national lockdown.
URGED: Angie Motshekga
“Nine million children ordinarily benefit from the national school nutrition programme. For many of these learners, the meal received at school is often the only meal received for the day.”
They questioned the reported stance of the department that it has already disbursed funds to provinces and there was no money left for food distribution.
“The Department of Basic Education has yet to fully explain how the committed funds, which are dedicated to school nutrition provision, will be utilised during this period,” reads the letter.
Calls and text messages sent to spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga went unanswered.