Uncategorized
By Lungile Ntimba
Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane has commended the police for arresting two people allegedly caught with stolen school food meant for the Minerva Secondary School in Alexandra.
According to the department, the two suspects, a 60-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman, were found next to the school with boxes of food supplies, including milk and bulk packs of tinned fish.
They were apprehended and charged with possession of suspected stolen property on Saturday.
“We are concerned by this senseless crime which takes away from the good we are trying to achieve through the School Nutrition Programme and ensuring learners are fed at schools,” Chiloane said on Monday in a statement.
“We vehemently condemn such criminal acts and call upon communities to safeguard the food supplies which are meant to nourish their children.”
The stolen food was part of supplies provided to the school through the National School Nutrition Programme.
“This programme provides nutritious meals to learners in primary and secondary schools, aiming to improve learning by addressing malnutrition and hunger,” he added.
The MEC also said that the department recently appointed new service providers under the programme for the next three years that started in April. There have delays in the delivery of food supplies to various schools.
“We must acknowledge that since their appointment, some service providers had delayed with their deliveries to a few schools,” Chiloane said.
“However, this was rectified by Friday, 11 April 2025, and we can confirm that all schools received their stock. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that might have been caused to the affected schools.”
Members of the public were urged to report any crime happening at schools to the police, and refrain from purchasing any stolen goods.
INSIDE EDUCATION