SIPHELELE NKETO
THE Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape has called for an audit of school kitchen infrastructure and facilities.
This was after the DA shadow MEC for education Horatio Hendricks MPL visited Gobizizwe Agricultural School in Mthatha on Monday, August 18, following last week’s spate of foodborne illnesses that saw scores of learners falling ill.
Hendricks was accompanied by DA shadow MEC for agriculture Heinrich Müller MPL, DA OR Tambo constituency leader Mlindi Nhanha MP, and DA Phesheya Kwenciba constituency leader, Fezeka Mbiko MP.
They conducted an oversight inspection to the school and handed over a donation of stationary.
The DA will be tabling a motion in the legislature to demand a full provincial audit of all school kitchen infrastructure and facilities, including compliance with municipal health and safety by-laws. This must be a province-wide review with clear timelines, public reporting and an action plan to fix what is not compliant,” said Hendricks.
The delegation engaged parents and promised that the matter would be fully investigated.
Hendricks said the Department of Education must accept responsibility for providing safe, compliant and fit-for-purpose kitchen infrastructure at all qualifying schools.
“Our focus is the health and dignity of learners. Parents should never have to worry that a meal at school will put their children in hospital. The people of the Eastern Cape deserve leadership that delivers, and a future built on dignity, opportunity and honest government,” Hendricks concluded.
