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PHUTI MOSOMANE
PACINA Retail (Pty) LTD, the service provider for school nutrition in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), has announced its decision to withdraw from the R2.1 billion tender amid controversy.
The company told KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government that its withdrawal is contingent upon being reimbursed for all costs incurred thus far.
The KZN Department of Education has been informed of this development.
KZN Education Head of Communications, Muzi Mahlambi, said: “Following the withdrawal, we have issued a circular to schools to indicate that as from the 2nd of May, we will go back to the old method of doing things. Service providers who were awarded particular clusters will be dealing directly with the schools without any middle person.”
The KZN Department of Education has requested schools and service providers to work together over the weekend to ensure that all learners are fed by Tuesday.
This comes after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) requested more information about the R2.1 billion school nutrition tender, with plans to investigate it.
The ANC in KZN has called for the immediate termination of the contract, urging the department to approach the high court for an urgent termination order.
Trade union SAFTU has also called for the immediate termination of the contract.
The department has been unable to provide a clear explanation for the change in the contract’s operating procedures.
The scandal has prompted Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, to threaten to terminate the contract.
Insiders reveal that the contracted service provider did not have the capacity to cover every school and district in the province, leaving over 3,500 learners without food.
INSIDE EDUCATION