MBOMBELA – The irregularly appointed providers of the Department of Education’s feeding scheme, have not only continued to provide the food for a year after the court ordered a readjudication of the tenders, but a missing R11 million is allegedly forcing the department to feed children in CRDP municipalities for two days less this month.
Mr Raymond Makamo, member of the provincial executive of the South African National Civic Organisation, said at least eight service providers had complained to the organisation about the orders to supply less food this month.
As one explained to Lowvelder on condition of anonymity, “March is an 18-day month. We have been instructed to supply food for 16 days only. We were also instructed during a meeting with the provincial nutrition coordinator, to submit invoices only for 14 days.”
The money to remunerate the suppliers supposedly came from two public holidays last year when food was provided and for which they were paid. But now the department claims they were not supposed to deliver food.
“For many of the children the feeding scheme is the only meal they get. This month they will get two days’ food less. It also influences our cash flow. Why did they pay us last year for days we were not supposed to provide food?”
The reason was that R11 million had apparently gone missing from the department between service providers and administrative issues.
The feeding scheme had been shrouded in controversy since last year when losing bidders took the department to court over the awarding of the contracts. The High Court ruled that the tenders were awarded irregularly and ordered the department to readjudicate them. It was readvertised in September with bids closing in December. In the meanwhile the winning bidders were to continue to supply the food.
Spokesman for the department Mr Jasper Zwane told Lowvelder he could not say whether the tenders had been reawarded or not as the matter was still subjudice.
“It is worth noting that the department has adhered to the order. Also note that there is nothing that prohibited the department from readvertising. Remember the department, after adhering to the issues returned to court to state progress. Parallel to that some service providers went to court to contest the process followed. We are still awaiting judgement in this regard.”
Zwane would not comment on the service providers’ claims that they had been instructed to only provide food for 16 days in March or the budget shortfall of R11 million.
