Mabona rejects reports of meal shortages at no-fee schools

Gauteng Education Spokesperson Steve Mabona has dismissed claims that thousands of learners at no-fee schools were without meals and sent home last week.

The department launched its new R9 billion school nutrition programme, which was allegedly chaotic.

Mabona says the only issue they had was a delay in food deliveries to some schools.

“By the time we started the program, deliveries were at the schools. It’s less than 20 schools that did not have deliveries on the third day, which, when we opened schools. And some of those deliveries were delayed because there’s theft that is happening in some of our schools. Secondly, schools that did not have food, they were borrowed food from the neighbouring schools. There are no teachers that forked out their money and principals to feed children. They will not be in a position to do that.”