By Celani Sikhakhane
- The DA in KZN has referred the province’s National School Nutrition Programme tender process to the Special Investigating Unit for independent probe.
- Companies linked to Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka’s mother, Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya’s wife, and senior ANC figure Thanduxolo Sabelo’s wives have all been flagged in the tender awards.
The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal has formally referred the province’s National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) tender process to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), requesting an independent investigation into the procurement process and the prolonged disputes surrounding it.
The referral follows months of delays before the Provincial Treasury Bid Appeals Tribunal, and long-running allegations of irregularities raised by affected bidders and the DA. DA education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi said the dispute dates back to 2025, when unsuccessful bidders lodged appeals following the award process.
The allegations are specific and serious. A company linked to the mother of KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka appeared on the official NSNP awards register; Hlomuka has acknowledged registering the company before taking office, but denies any continued involvement or knowledge of its activities. A separate company belonging to the wife of Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Jomo Sibiya was also flagged among the awarded service providers.
The DA has additionally raised concerns over tenders linked to the wives of senior ANC figure Thanduxolo Sabelo, and alleged undue influence at a tender committee discussion held at a Morningside hotel in Durban.
“The Department of Education has maintained that the procurement process complied with applicable supply-chain management requirements. However, after the DA revealed that certain tenders were awarded to individuals politically connected to the ANC and senior department officials, the process was tainted. The department previously confirmed that approximately 20,000 bids were evaluated for 1,756 NSNP clusters across KZN,” Mngadi said.
He said the scale of the tender, the public money involved, and the importance of the programme meant the outstanding allegations warranted independent scrutiny.
“This referral is not a finding of wrongdoing. It is a request for the relevant investigative authority to establish the facts and determine whether any irregularity, maladministration, improper conduct or financial loss occurred,” Mngadi said.
The programme provides daily nutritional support to millions of vulnerable learners in KZN.
“Its administration must be beyond reproach. Learners cannot remain caught in the middle of prolonged procurement battles. The DA will submit the relevant documentation and request that the SIU assess whether grounds exist for a formal investigation. As a responsible partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity, we will continue to push for answers,” Mngadi said.
The scandal has a long history. The NSNP faced a major SIU probe in 2023, after the R2.4-billion contract awarded to Pacina Retail left learners without meals for weeks, following reports of rotten or undelivered food.
This latest referral comes as the nutrition programme continues to cause disruption in KZN schools, with suppliers publicly complaining that the department has failed to pay them on time.
Pictured above: Sakhile Mngadi of the DA in the KZN Legislature, who has referred the school nutrition tender scandal to the SIU.
Image source: DA KZN
