‘Logistical Challenges’ haltered a National Nutrition Programme from delivering meals to students in KZN. However, this municipality decided to take action and provide hope for the hungry by teaming up with NGOs to cover the costs and ensure nutritious meals are still on the menu.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (18 April, 2023) — Stepping in to respond to an emergency situation tied to the school nutrition programme in KwaZulu-Natal, local municipality uMngeni has decided to take its own course of action to provide nutritious meals for learners.
As shared by the municipality’s mayor, Chris Pappas, uMngeni is allocating R70 000 and teaming up with local non-government organisations to ensure students have access to nutritious meals that will benefit both their brains and bellies.
This comes after the KwaZulu Natal Department of Education ‘experienced logistical challenges’ in food delivery to schools across the province, announced last week. Without quick intervention, children would be left with just one meal a day.
However, uMngeni refused to ignore the situation at hand.
“The Municipality has pledged R1 for every R1 raised by civil society (with a maximum cap). These funds have been identified as part of the municipality’s disaster response budget. In total the Municipality will spend R70 000 to support this dire situation.” — Mayor Chris Pappas.
The young mayor went on to share that although the initiative is a short-term vision, the municipality is committed to working with the Department of Education to make sure that nutritious meals are always on the menu for students in the area.
Nutritious meals are vital to learning and development but are often few and far between for many South African students. Still, everyday heroes continue to step up to the plate; dedicate themselves to feeding students and people around our country. You can meet them here.
Addressing other municipalities, the mayor said:
“The uMngeni Municipality encourages other local municipalities and organizations to take similar action in support of learners who rely on school feeding programmes.”
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