As the countdown to the national budget speech on 21 May begins, Build One South Africa (BOSA) makes its first and urgent appeal to the Minister of Finance: Do not cut a single cent from school feeding schemes.
The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) is a vital lifeline for over 9 million poor learners across the country. In many cases, the meal provided at school is the only guaranteed meal a child receives in a day.
We call on Minister Enoch Godongwana to ring-fence and look to increase funding for school feeding schemes. In addition, we must ensure that red tape, corruption, and fiscal pressure does not rob children of their basic right to nutrition as has been the case in at least three provinces.
Across KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, the Northern Cape and the Western Cape, food delivery to schools has been disrupted by a toxic mix of unpaid suppliers, contested tenders, and budget constraints. Learners are already going hungry, and the situation is deteriorating.
In KwaZulu-Natal, many service providers have not been paid for March and April 2025. This follows last year’s R2 billion tender scandal that led to rotten food and over 5,400 schools without meals.
In Gauteng, more than 1 million learners were affected by delays in finalising a new NSNP contract in 2024. Legal wrangling over tenders continues to undermine meal delivery, with teachers reporting empty plates and hungry children, especially during winter.
In the Northern Cape, a looming R358 million education budget shortfall threatens future delivery, despite the province’s effort to decentralise procurement. And in the Western Cape, while feeding continues, a R3.8 billion staffing shortfall and a 21% vacancy rate in education posts signal dangerous fiscal strain.
Any government that allows children to go hungry while billions are spent on ministerial perks and luxury motorcades has lost its way. BOSA rejects any budget that sacrifices the health and dignity of poor children for the sake of austerity or patronage.
Media Enquiries:
Roger Solomons – BOSA Acting Spokesperson – 072 299 3551