Nick Mpshe Technical and Commercial Secondary School in Winterveldt, Pretoria, has allegedly been serving pupils plain rice and is unable to supplement the offering with other forms of nutritious foods.
More seriously, the student body claims the students were subjected to ingesting rotten food “due poor service delivery”.
Progressive Student Movement president Ashley Nthekiso said they became aware of the unpleasant situation of rotten food last month, and that pupils were not receiving “enough nutrition as they should” because, among other things, “the feeding scheme groceries were off” and unsuitable for human consumption.
He said they had been informed that the school was provided with “rotten” mince and canned fish”.
“We understand that the food at the school was rotten and even had worms, and that the service provider had not delivered the requisite food as expected.
“But we came to realise that this does not only happen at this specific school – it is a widespread practice, and we cannot allow this situation to continue,” said Nthekiso.
He said school officials had confirmed that soya mince “had expired”. Nthekiso said they would hold the service provider responsible “for the mess”.
“As long as learners are safe, and future occurrences are avoided, we are happy,” he said.
Nthekiso said the organisation had written to the department of education demanding answers.
The problems have allegedly now spread to the neighbouring Itseng Primary School.
The department spokesperson Dr Raymond Ndlhovu (circuit manager) said the department had not been informed about this matter, which they regard as “a very serious concern”.
In an interview with Sunday World, Gauteng department of education spokesperson Steve Mabona disputed a claim that “the learners only ate rice”. Mabona also ignored questions on what the department planned to do to stop the spread of similar incidents.
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