National School Nutrition Programme - KwaZulu-Natal Department ...

KWAZULU-NATAL DEPARTMENT OF 

EDUCATION 

NATIONAL SCHOOL NUTRITION 

PROGRAMME 

DRAFT POLICY ON THE 

IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHOOL 

NUTRITION PROGRAMME 

KZN-DOE NSNP Policy 2011 -1- 

13/9/P

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. GLOSSARY OF TERMS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3 

2. BACKGROUND………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..4 

3. PURPOSE ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………..…….5 

4. SCOPE OF APPLICABILITY………………………………………………………………………………………..…….6 

5. LEGISLATIVE MANDATES………………………………………………………………………………………..………….6 

6. TARGETING…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….……….8 

7. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES…………………………………………………………………………..………….8 

7.1 School Principal ……………………………………………………………………………………………..…………….8 

7.2 School Governing Bodies (SGB) …………………………………………………………..…………..9 

7.3 Deputy Principal/HOD/NSNP Educator(s) ..…………………………………..………….9 

7.4 Nutrition Commitees ……………………………………………………………………………………..………………9 

7.5 District Office ………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………10 

7.6 Head Office …………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………10 

8. PARTICIPATION OF SCHOOLS IN NSNP …………………………………………………..…………….11 

9. FEEDING ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………11 

10. JOB CREATION PROJECT ……………………………………………………………………………………..…………12 

11. FOOD HANDLERS APPOINTMENT …………………………………………………………………………..…….13 

12. SELECTION OF SERVICE PROVIDERS: SMME’S …………………………………..………..13 

13. LOCAL COOPERATIVES (LC'S)…………………………………………………………………….……….…..15 

14. TERMINATION OF SERVICE …………………………………………………………………………………..…..16 

14.1 SMME's …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………. 16 

14.2 LC's …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….… 17 

15. DISPUTES/CONFLICT RESOLUTION…………………………………………………………………….….….17 

16. DECENTRALIZATION OF NSNP FUNDS TO SCHOOLS………………………………….....17 

17. SERVICE PROVIDERS PAYMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS……………………………….....18 

17.1 Centralized Payments ………………………………………………………………………………………….….18 

17.2 Decentralized Payments …………………………………………………………………..………………..19 

18. NUTRITION EDUCATION …………………………………………………………………………..………………………20 

19. SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION …………………………………………………………..……………..23 

20. CONFLICT OF INTEREST ………………………………………………………………………………….…………..24 

21. FRAUD AND IRREGULATIES …………………………………………………………………………..…………….25 

21.1 General Stipulations …………………………………………………………………………..……………….25 

21.2 Investigation Unit ……………………………………………………………………………………..………….25 

21.3 Departmental Hotline………………………………………………………………………………..…………..26 

22. REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…26 


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1. GLOSSARY OF TERMS 

2.1 KZN-DOE: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education 

2.2 DOE-Head Office: Department of Education in which the 

NSNP Provincial Directorate is located. 

2.3 NSNP: National School Nutrition Programme. 

2.4 (CG) Conditional Grant: the ring fenced government funds 

allocated to NSNP. 

2.5 Approval Letter: refers to the letter issued to 

participating schools which contains a breakdown of 

NSNP annual budget allocated to the school. 

2.6 SGB: refers to the School Governing Body responsible for 

the governance of the school including NSNP. 

2.7 SMT: refers to School Management Team that is 

responsible for the administration and management of 

school including NSNP 

2.8 LSEN: refers to the schools with learners with special 

needs who are also targeted to participate in NSNP 

2.9 (LWC) Local Women Cooperatives: A women cooperative 

project first initiated by KZN-DOE in 2006 to harness 

and enhance local economic development for women groups 

2.10 LC: Local Cooperatives irrespective of gender. For the 

purpose of this policy document, LC’s shall also 

generally include or refer to those cooperatives that 

are known as LWC’s. 

2.11 SLA: Service Level Agreement which refers to the 

document signed between the awarded service provider 

and KZN-DOE and/or the feeding schools detailing the 

terms of engagement between the parties. 

2.11 SMME’S: Small, Medium & Micro Enterprises that are 

service providers in NSNP 

2.12 VFH’s: Voluntary Food Handlers are parents of 


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learners in participating schools selected/appointed to 

work as cooks or prepare meals for learners on all 

feeding days. 

2.13 Stipend/honorarium: refers to a stipulated fixed amount 

paid to the voluntary food handler/cook at the end of 

the feeding month. 

2.14 Centralized Payment: refers to the system of payment in 

which service providers are paid directly by the 

Department through their authorized bank accounts. 

2.15 Decentralized Payment: a new system that shall be 

implemented with effect from 2012/13 in which NSNP 

funds shall be transferred to schools in quarterly 

tranches for the payment of service providers. 

2. BACKGROUND 

The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), previously 

known as Primary School Nutrition Programme (PSNP) was 

introduced in 1994 as one of the Presidential Lead projects 

of the Reconstruction and Development Programme. The 

programme was introduced as a strategy to alleviate poverty. 

Poverty, under nutrition, household food insecurity problems 

are co-related and their casualties overlap. Under-nutrition 

is caused by inadequate food intake, which can be caused by 

poverty and household food insecurity. The poverty 

statistics by the World Bank, 1996, indicated that KwaZulu 

Natal has a poverty level of 26%. 53% of the population in 

the Province is poor (Census 1996). Studies by the Food 

Agriculture organization (FAO), UNESCO and the World Health 

Organization (WHO) indicate that hunger impacts negatively 

on the Millennium Developmental Goals (MDG’s), namely 

universal primary education, gender equality, child 

survival, maternal health, management of HIV and AIDS, TB 

and malaria, and environmental stability. 

Given the high incidence and severity of poverty in KwaZulu 

Natal Province, hunger is a real problem affecting millions 

of children from poor households. HIV and AIDS have a 


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negative impact on children leaving them vulnerable to 

household food insecurity. 

Many factors contribute to poor performance amongst school 

learners. These include long distances they have to 

walk/travel to school, extra chores they have to perform 

before going to school, meal patterns at home and a lack of 

family time or resources to provide food of adequate quality 

and quantity at home. Children, who come to school hungry, 

have diminished attentiveness, a greater likelihood of 

becoming distracted and a diminished interest in learning. 

The result is that learners become vulnerable to failure, 

low achievement and repetition. 

NSNP aims to contribute to the improvement of education 

quality and general health by: 

� Feeding learners at designated schools 

� Enhancing learning active capacity 

� Enhancing nutrition education through curriculum and 

Improving nutritional knowledge, perceptions, attitudes 

and healthy eating amongst school learners, their 

parents and educators 

� Alleviating short term hunger 

� Improving school attendance and punctuality 

� Addressing micronutrient deficiencies through the 

establishment of sustainable food production and, the 

implementation of school gardens 

NSNP as the government programme, further aims to enhance 

broader development initiatives. These include amongst 

others contributing to job creation for local communities 

who were previously disadvantaged. In keeping with the 

principles of access, equity, redress and protection against 

unfair discrimination or malpractices, this policy document 

shall serve as a watchdog. 

3. PURPOSE 

The purpose of this policy document is to regulate, control 

and administer the implementation of the National School 

Nutrition Programme at provincial, district and school 

level, within the province of KwaZulu-Natal in order to: 


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� Deliver quality nutritious food to learners as a basic 

children’s right, in targeted primary, LSEN and 

secondary schools. 

� Strengthen learner achievement through provision of 

quality nutrition 

� Enhance knowledge of quality nutrition and food 

production at school community level 

� Use schools as an entry point into bigger community 

development initiatives. 

4. SCOPE OF APPLICABILITY 

This policy shall apply to all stakeholders (feeding 

schools, School Governing Bodies, officials including but 

not limited to Principals of Schools & Educators and 

Voluntary Food Handlers), and all departmental officials and 

service providers (namely Local Cooperatives, SMME’s and/or 

other business entities) participating in the National 

School Nutrition Programme in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. 

5. LEGISLATIVE MANDATES 

This policy shall be read and applied in conjunction with 

the following legislative mandates as also informed by and 

espoused in Blue Book of National Guidelines of 2004 and 

NSNP Provincial guidelines as revised in 2011: 

5.1 Access to quality food as enshrined in the Constitution 

of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996), 

International Children’s Rights Charter. 

5.2 Access to quality basic education and learner access as 

stipulated in the National Education Policy Act 27 of 1996, 

South African Schools Act of 1996. 

5.3 The responsibility of the state towards equitable 

funding of schools as expressed in Section 34 of the South 

African Schools Act 84 of 1996. 

5.4 Targeting of schools for feeding as informed by Norms 

and Standards for Funding of Public Schools, General Notice 

2362 of 12 October 1998. 


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5.5 The roles and responsibilities of the three levels of 

governance i.e. national, provincial and the school as per 

section 3 of the National Education Policy Act of 1996 and 

Sections 15 and 16 of the South African Schools Act 84 of 

1996. 

5.6 Provision of Grade R as enshrined in the White Paper no 

5 and the Cabinet Resolution of 2002 in which the transfer 

of the National School Nutrition Programme is addressed. 

5.8 Government Procurement that favours women and Black 

Economic Empowerment, as expressed in the Presidential State 

of the Nation Address of February 2003. 

5.9 The power of the National Minister of Education to 

determine and review national policy, after due 

consultation, the power of provincial legislatures to 

implementational and provincial policy within the guidelines 

of the higher national policy, and the rights of schools as 

legal persona to implement national policy ,will apply at 

all times.(National Education Act 27 of 1996). 

5.10 Participation of parents through school governing 

bodies in the local level education governance as espoused 

in the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996. 

5.11Participation of educators in the School Nutrition 

Programme as an extra mural activity of the school (extra 

mural activities as espoused in the South African Schools 

Act 84 of 1996) and also espoused in the spirit of 

Employment of Educators Act 76 of 1998 and the Code of 

Ethics of the SACE Act of 1998. 

5.12 The Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) of 1999. 

5.13 The Division of Revenue Act (DORA) & Grant Framework 

5.14 Food, Cosmetics & Disinfectants Act of 1996. 

5.15 KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education Summit 

Declaration of 2011. 


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5.16 NSNP Operational Guidelines: the document that contains 

and articulates appropriate steps, processes and procedures 

to be followed in the implementation of NSNP 

6. TARGETING 

6.1 The targeting of schools shall be done by the Department 

of Education in consultation 

with EMIS and Norms and Standards Directorates at the 

province. The selection criteria as set out by the 

National Department of Basic Education provide that 

learners in public schools should benefit from the 

programme: 

� Learners in Grade R – 12 

� Only Grade R learners attached to public schools shall 

be targeted 

� Learners in Quintile 1, 2, and 3 primary, combined and 

secondary schools 

� Learners in targeted LSEN schools (participation of new 

LSEN schools shall be subject to an assessment done by 

the districts and/or province in the year of 

application) 

6.2 Participating schools that will have their quintile 

ranking elevated higher than three shall 

be automatically excluded from the programme in the year 

of application even if they were feeding in the previous 

year. 

7. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

7.1 School Principal 

7.1.1 The principal as the head of the school shall be 

expected to perform all duties in terms 

of the South African Schools Act, Sect 16 (3); the 

employment of Educators Act 76 of 1998, Sect 7 (1) (a) 

read in conjunction with PAM (Personnel Administrative 

Measures) Section 4.2 (e) (i) which refers to one core 

responsibility of the principal being that of “ensuring 

that various kinds of school accounts and records are 

properly kept and to make the best use of funds for the 

benefit of the learners in consultation with 

appropriate structures”. 


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7.1.2 In terms of the School Nutrition Programme, the school 

principal shall be expected to 

manage and account for proper implementation of the 

programme at his/her school in line with this policy 

document and as outlined in NSNP Operational 

Guidelines. 

7.2 School Governing Bodies (SGB) 

In terms of South African Schools Act No. 84 of 1996 (sect 

16:1), the governance of 

every public school is vested in its Governing Body. 

7.2.1 The SGB of the feeding school shall be expected 

amongst other things, to oversee and 

monitor proper implementation of the NSNP at the 

school, and work together with the SMT of the school 

in ensuring that the programme is implemented in line 

with policy framework and NSNP Operational Guidelines. 

7.2.2 Notwithstanding the provisions of the South African 

Schools Act, the specific roles and 

responsibilities of the SGB with regard to NSNP shall 

also include those outlined in NSNP Operational 

Guidelines. 

7.2 Deputy Principal/HOD and/or Educators responsible for 

NSNP 

7.3.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of the South African 

Schools Act, the school’s deputy 

Principal/school’s HOD and/or designated educator/s 

that will be responsible for NSNP shall in line with 

this policy frame work and NSNP guidelines assist the 

principal in managing and administering the programme 

at the school. 

7.3.2 The school’s deputy principal/school’s HOD and/or 

designated educator/s responsible for NSNP shall 

ensure that NSNP related documents or records are 

updated and kept at all times. 

7.4 Nutrition Committees 

7.4.1 Where feasible, the school shall form a Nutrition 

Committee from SMT members and/or educators that shall 

together with the principal and SGB be responsible for 

all NSNP activities at school level. 


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7.4.1 NSNP activities in the school shall include but not 

limited to daily supervision of the feeding of 

learners; receiving of NSNP deliveries, completing & 

updating of stock control registers, completion of 

daily and summary for the month feeding registers, 

handle and resolve any NSNP- related conflicts, and 

ensure the smooth running of the programme 

in the school. 

7.5 District Office 

7.5.1 The district office shall in terms of this policy and 

NSNP Operational Guidelines be responsible for 

the implementation of the programme at district level 

and report to the provincial office on monthly and 

quarterly progress. 

7.5.2 The district office shall maintain databases of all 

participating schools in the district including 

appointed service providers, food handlers and any 

other relevant databases. 

7.5.3 The roles and responsibilities of the district in 

implementing NSNP are clearly articulated in the NSNP 

Operational Guidelines. 

7.6 Head Office 

7.6.1 The Head Office shall in line with National Grant 

Framework and in terms of this policy document and NSNP 

Operational Guidelines monitor and evaluate the 

implementation of the programme, allocate and manage 

budget to districts and feeding schools. 

7.6.2 The Head Office shall in consultation with the 

district offices draft provincial business plans, 

develop and review NSNP policies and guidelines for 

effective implementation of programme. 

7.6.3 The Head Office shall report to the Department’s 

Senior Management and National Department on monthly, 

quarterly and annual bases on the progress of the 

implementation of NSNP in the province. 

7.6.4 The Head Office shall maintain databases of all 

participating schools including appointed service 

providers, food handlers and any other relevant 

databases. 


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8. PARTICIPATION OF SCHOOLS IN NSNP 

8.1 The participation of schools in the programme shall be 

reviewed yearly based on the set targeting criteria as 

outlined in point 6 of this policy document and in line 

with the NSNP Operational Guidelines. 

8.2 Qualifying schools shall be required to complete and 

submit applications on the NSNP standard format to the 

Department in each financial year in order to be granted 

feeding. 

8.3 Qualifying schools shall be required to ensure that 

enrolment figures provided to EMIS for a 10 day Snap 

Survey are correct as the NSNP Directorate will not take 

responsibility and/or amend approval letters based on 

erroneous submissions to EMIS. 

8.4 Each qualifying school shall accordingly be allocated an 

annual budget based on a 10 day Snap Survey enrolment, 

and no variation shall be allowed thereof unless the 

school’s enrolment has decreased from the Snap Survey at 

the time of application wherefore the lower enrolment 

shall be considered. 

8.5 Each qualifying school shall not commence with feeding 

without an official approval letter from KZN-DOE 

detailing the break down of annual budget for the school. 

KZN-DOE will not take responsibility for the schools that 

shall commence feeding without an official approval 

letter authorizing the school to feed. 

9. FEEDING 

9.1 The National Grant Framework dictates that learners are 

fed in all school days with at least a minimum of 193 

days per year. 

9.2 The feeding of learners in the province shall take 

place in all school days in all participating primary, 

LSEN and secondary schools in line with the NSNP annual 

feeding calendar that shall be determined by the KZN-DOE 

in terms of the Grant Framework. 

9.3 Learners in all schools shall be fed by 10H00 in terms 

of the Grant Framework. 

9.4 The learners shall be fed in accordance with the 

stipulation of this policy document and in strict 

adherence to feeding schedule, delivery times, prescribed 


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menu and specifications of food products as outlined in 

the NSNP Operational Guidelines. 

10. JOB CREATION PROJECT 

In terms of the Cabinet Resolution of 2002 and the 

Declaration of KZN Education Summit of 2011,NSNP has a 

mandate and responsibility to create job opportunities for 

local women groups and local people within its scope of 

providing nutritious meals to primary, LSEN and secondary 

schools. 

10.1 The NSNP Directorate shall ensure that local people 

within the areas in which feeding schools are located 

benefit from the programme as service providers (i.e. 

Local Cooperatives & SMME’s); locally based Primary 

Producers within municipal wards; and 

as Voluntary Food Handlers and Groundsmen. 

10.2 The Department of Education in collaboration with the 

Department of Agriculture and of Economic Development 

shall vigorously engage in identifying existing 

community based projects and agricultural cooperatives 

within the local municipal wards that shall be 

trained and equipped to work as production centres of 

food items which are consumed in feeding schools. 

10.3 The KZN-DOE shall use its discretion to link/connect 

NSNP service providers within the local municipal wards 

and/or within the district to the identified community 

based projects and/or agricultural cooperatives from 

which they will be required to purchase in terms of the 

provisions of this policy and the Service Level 

Agreement. 

10.4 The KZN-DOE shall in respect of the above reserve the 

right to revoke or terminate the contract of the 

service provider that shall fail to comply with this 

provision. 

10.5 The KZN-DOE shall incrementally increase the number of 

Local Cooperatives (comprising of six members per 

Cooperative) that shall be trained and equipped to 

service schools with effect from 2012/13 financial 

year. The newly formed cooperatives 

shall be allocated schools by KZN-DOE on the basis of 

the selection criteria that shall be deemed relevant at 

the time, and on the basis of its discretion. 


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11. FOOD HANDLERS APPOINTMENT 

11.1 The SGB and SMT of the participating school shall be 

responsible for identifying and selecting from amongst 

the community members parents of learners to work as 

voluntary food handlers or cooks in the school 

11.2 The SGB parent members who shall have an interest in 

working as voluntary food handlers shall first be 

expected to resign as SGB members in order to qualify 

for selection. 

11.3 The contract for voluntary food handlers shall run for 

a period of 12 months/one financial year period; and 

the principle of rotating parents and/or renewal of the 

contract shall apply at the end of the contract period 

as the SGB and SMT may deem fit, and no resistance from 

those whose contracts have ended shall be expected 

thereof. 

11.4 The voluntary food handlers once contracted, shall 

receive a monthly stipend/honorarium of the amount that 

shall be dictated by the Grant Framework and subject to 

review in each financial year. 

11.5 The SGB and SMT shall be expected to ensure that 

voluntary food handlers strictly perform those duties 

related to the preparation of meals for learners as 

stipulated in NSNP Operational Guidelines and Food 

Handlers’ Duty List. 

11.6 The SGB and SMT shall ensure that voluntary food 

handlers are equipped in basic food preparation, and 

that they attend food handlers training organized by 

the Department from time to time, and that food 

handlers wear protective clothing at all times when 

performing their duties. 

12. SELECTION OF SERVICE PROVIDERS: SMME’S 

12.1 The selection of service providers to supply meals to 

schools shall be in line with the procedures and 

selection criteria as stipulated in the SCM and NSNP 

Operational Guidelines. 

12.2 The general SCM/procurement guidelines and procedures 

of the Department shall be followed using the quotation 

system in which the School Governing Body(SGB) shall be 


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expected to recommend a minimum of three up to a 

maximum of five suitable service providers to the 

Department for the provision of meals. 

12.3 Upon recommendation by the schools, the District 

Selection Committee chaired by the District Manager or 

a delegated official, comprising of a minimum of five 

up to a maximum of seven members which shall include 

the District officials and one official from the Head 

Office shall be responsible for the appointment of the 

service providers as per the stipulation of this 

policy, and the selection requirements as articulated 

in NSNP Operational Guidelines. 

12.4 The District Selection Committee shall reserve the 

right to reverse the process by the school or not to 

uphold any of the recommended service providers if 

found that procedures were flouted or not followed 

and/or where the recommended service providers do not 

qualify as per the stipulations of this policy 

document. 

12.5 The service providers that have also been deemed 

unqualified or blacklisted by the KZN Treasury and/or 

not properly registered shall be automatically excluded 

from the selection process even if they have been 

recommended by the school/s. 

12.6 Only service providers that are locally based (within 

the parameters of the education district in which the 

school is based) and which are registered on the KZN 

Provincial and Departmental databases shall qualify for 

selection in the provision of meals to learners in 

participating schools. 

12.7 Where one service provider has won a bid/contract to 

feed more than one school in the district locality, the 

enrolment allocation shall not exceed a maximum of 

5 000 learners for all schools put together, and each 

service provider shall be confined or restricted to 

bid/contest for services only to schools in the 

district locality in which the contesting 

company/business/organization is registered. 

12.8 Where there are more than one qualifying service 

providers for one school within the district, 

preference shall be determined on the basis of the 

municipal ward in which the school is located and also 

in consideration of the maximum enrolment allocation 

per service provider. 


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12.9 The service provider’s contract or agreement with one 

school shall be valid for only one financial year or 

lesser period as may be determined by the Department 

from time to time and/or as a result of termination. 

12.10 The awarded/contracted service provider shall not 

commence with the feeding of the school prior to the 

receipt of the copy of an official approval letter 

detailing the breakdown of the annual budget of the 

school and authorizing the service provider to feed. 

KZN-DOE shall not take responsibility for the service 

provider that shall deviate from this rule (refer to 

No.8.5 of this policy document). 

12.11 The service provider shall not be contracted to the 

same or one school for more than three consecutive 

years, and no service provider thereto shall be 

entitled to have the ownership of any school 

irrespective of the sponsorships and/or donations given 

to the school. 

12.12 The Department shall reserve the right to allocate any 

feeding schools to Local Women Cooperatives (LWC’s) 

and/or any Local Cooperatives that may be established 

or decided upon by the Department after the contract 

period with the service provider has expired. 

13. LOCAL COOPERATIVES (LC’S) 

13.1 Background 

13.1.1 The cabinet resolution of 2002 indicates that, 

measures should be in place to harness and replicate 

successful initiatives to increase the participation of 

women groups. This resolution culminated in the 

formation of Local Women Cooperatives (LWC’) in 2006 

and 2009 respectively. 

13.1.2 The Department shall incrementally introduce more 

local cooperatives in the future with the ultimate 

intention to strike a balance in sharing from NSNP 

gains between SMME’s and Local Cooperatives. 

13.2 Selection of LC’s 

13.2.1 The selection of LC’s for the provision of meals to 

schools within the district in which the cooperative is 

registered shall be determined by the Department in 

line with the selection criteria as stipulated in the 

NSNP Operational Guidelines. 


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13.2.2 Each LC shall be allocated schools based on the 

minimum allocation of 3000 learners (for all schools 

combined together) by the Department within the 

parameters of the district. 

13.2.3 Where possible, the Department shall strive to 

allocate the LC schools with higher enrolments (i.e. 

800 learners and above per school) and that 

are within the close proximity of each other which are 

located within municipal ward in reaching minimum 

allocation of 3000 learners. 

13.2.4 LC’s which are well established and have sufficient 

capacity shall be allowed to solicit schools on their 

own above the minimum enrolment allocated by the 

Department up to a maximum of 10 000 learners (for all 

schools combined together) within the district in line 

with selection procedures applicable to SMME’s. 

13.2.5 Schools allocated to LC’s shall remain theirs for a 

maximum period of three years after which they shall be 

expected to compete for schools with other LC’s within 

the pool of schools that shall be ring-fenced for LC’s. 

14. TERMINATION OF SERVICE 

14.1 SMME’s 

14.1.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of the Service Level 

Agreement, the school and/or service provider in 

terminating the services before the end of the contract 

period shall be required to adhere to the termination 

procedures as stipulated in the Provincial NSNP 

Guidelines. 

14.1.2 The Department shall reserve the right to revoke any 

termination that was effected by the school in 

contravention of this policy or stipulated procedures. 

14.1.3 In the event of termination initiated or effected by 

the service provider, the Department and/or school 

shall have recourse to claim any outstanding amounts 

owed by the service provider to school in the form of 

unpaid honoraria or wood/gas costs which ever shall be 

applicable. 

14.1.4 Where possible if termination is initiated by the 

service provider, the Department shall reserve the 

right to compel the service provider to give at least a 


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14.2 LC’s 

minimum notice of 15 working days to ensure 

uninterrupted feeding at the school. 

14.2.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of the Service Level 

Agreement, the SGB, SMT and /or school principal shall 

under no circumstances unilaterally decide to terminate 

the services of the Local Cooperative. 

14.2.2 Where the LC is in breach in terms of the provisions 

of the Service Level Agreement, NSNP Operational 

Guidelines and/or this policy document, the school 

shall be required to strictly follow the stipulated 

guidelines as outlined in the NSNP Operational 

Guidelines. 

14.2.3 Failure of the school to adhere to the above shall 

render its decision null and void in terms of the 

provisions of this policy and the NSNP Operational 

Guidelines and/or Service Level Agreement. 

15. DISPUTE/CONFLICT RESOLUTION 

Any disputes or conflicts arising from the 

selection/appointment of service providers and unfair 

termination of service shall be launched with the District 

Management and resolved at the District level thereof. 

16. DECENTRALIZATION OF NSNP FUNDS TO SCHOOLS 

In terms the Minister of Basic Education’s proclamation and 

directive that NSNP funds be transferred directly to feeding 

school, KZN-DOE shall with effect from the financial year 

2012/13 implement the process of transferring funds to 

feeding schools on incremental phases. 

16.1 In 2012/13, NSNP funds shall be transferred to 20% of 

all the feeding schools in the province of which 15% and 

5% shall be primary and secondary schools respectively, 

and the remainder of the schools included in the 

subsequent financial year thereof. 

16.2 The selection of the schools for the initial phase 

shall be based on proven good financial management 

practices and NSNP best practices. 


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16.3 The schools to which NSNP funds are transferred shall 

be required to strictly comply with all financial 

control measures and regulations as shall be stipulated 

by the Department and in line with this policy 

document, NSNP Operational Guidelines and/or government 

regulations which shall include but not limited to the 

provisions of the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996, 

Public Finance Management (PMFA), of 1999, DORA and any 

other relevant legislation. 

16.4 Where the school/s shall be found to contravene or 

deviate from the provisions of this policy, NSNP 

Guidelines, any of the stipulated financial procedures 

and/or government financial regulations, the KZN-DOE 

shall reserve the right to take away the powers of 

controlling NSNP funds from the guilty school/s to the 

DOE-Head Office or District Office whichever will be 

applicable at the time. 

16.5 Where deviation or contravention amounts to financial 

irregularities, the KZN-DOE shall treat the matter in 

accordance with the provisions of this policy as 

stipulated under fraud and irregularities. 

17. SERVICE PROVIDERS PAYMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS 

With effect from the financial year 2012/13, two systems of 

payments of service providers shall be implemented, namely: 

centralized and decentralized payments. The current 

centralized system will eventually be phased out giving way 

to the decentralized system that shall be phased in 

incrementally beginning with 20% of all feeding schools in 

2012/13 (see point 16 above). 

17.1 CENTRALIZED PAYMENTS 

17.1.1 The service provider shall claim for the service 

rendered at the end of the feeding month, and the SBG 

and/or school shall not pay the service provider but 

instead the Department of Education at Head Office 

level will transfer funds into the service provider’s 

authorized bank account for valid claims and tax 

invoices received (refer to NSNP Provincial Guidelines 

for payment procedures and processes). 

17.1.2 The service provider shall be required to pay 

honorarium/stipend to the school as per allocation 

stipulated in the approval letter, and such payment 


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shall be made at the end of every feeding month 

irrespective of payments by the DOE-Head Office. 

17.1.3 The service provider shall be required to supply gas 

or wood at an allocated budget to the school before the 

commencement of the feeding month. 

17.1.4 The service provider who fails to claim for services 

rendered within 90 days after the end of the feeding 

month shall forfeit any payments to that effect, and as 

such the Department shall not be liable for any costs 

incurred by the service provider thereof. 

17.1.5 Where the service provider is defaulting in rendering 

quality service, and upon availability of sufficient 

proof to that effect, the DOE-Head Office shall reserve 

the right to black list the defaulting service provider 

from having any future contracts with NSNP and/or KZN- 

DOE. 

17.2 DECENTRALIZED PAYMENTS 

17.2.1 The DOE-Head Office shall transfer NSNP funds 

directly into the school’s account, wherein the SGB and 

SMT shall be required to pay the service provider after 

delivering sufficient food quantities and of acceptable 

quality. 

17.2.2 The SGB and SMT shall ensure that the service 

provider is paid on time at the end of the month 

(within 7 working days) once the service has been 

rendered in line with this policy document and NSNP 

specifications as outlined in Provincial Guidelines. 

17.2.3 The service provider who fails to claim for services 

rendered within 90 days after the end of the feeding 

month shall forfeit any payments to that effect, and as 

such the Department shall not be liable for any costs 

incurred by the service provider. 

17.2.4 The SGB and SMT shall ensure accountability of the 

programme funds and will be expected to submit all 

relevant documentation prescribed by NSNP Directorate 

as proof of payments made to service providers, as well 

as account on the savings made where necessary. 

17.2.5 The funds to schools shall be transferred in 

quarterly tranches to ensure accountability, and where 

schools fail to provide proof of the use of NSNP funds 

and/or failure to pay service providers within 

specified time limits, the 


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DOE-Head Office shall reserve a right to centralize the 

NSNP school funds pending an investigation and/or audit 

of the affected school funds. 

17.2.6 Where the service provider is defaulting in rendering 

quality service and upon availability of sufficient 

proof to that effect, the DOE-Head Office shall reserve 

the right to black list the defaulting service provider 

from having any future contracts with NSNP and or KZN- 

DOE. 

18. NUTRITION EDUCATION 

18.1 Definition: 

18.1.1 Nutrition Education is defined as the various 

strategies or methods employed to educate the community 

on good eating habits. 

18.1.2 Nutrition Education is an integral part of NSNP and 

forms the heart of the programme as successful 

implementation of NSNP depends on the knowledge, 

perceptions and attitude of learners, educators and 

school parents to good nutrition and healthy lifestyle. 

18.1.3 Nutrition education in schools is incorporated in the 

Life Skills and Life Orientation programme. 

18.2 The NSNP Directorate responsibilities in terms of 

Nutrition Education shall be as follows: 

18.2.1 Updating of nutrition information relayed to 

learners. 

18.2.2 Development of materials for learners and educators 

in support of the nutrition content in Life 

Orientation and Life Skills programme. 

18.2.3 Training of principals and educators responsible for 

NSNP. 

18.2.4 Training food handlers on food preparation and food 

safety. 

18.2.5 Development of nutritionally adequate menus that meet 

the Recommended Dietary Allowances for school going 

children. 


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18.3 NSNP Menu 

18.3.1 The NSNP menu shall be developed by the NSNP 

Directorate based on the Nutritional needs of school 

going children and in line with national prescripts and 

guidelines. 

18.3.2 The prescribed menu shall be strictly adhered to, and 

no deviation shall be tolerated unless otherwise the 

school has sought special exemption from KZN-DOE, and 

has accordingly been granted approval to that effect. 

18.3.3 Service Providers who deliberately supply items that 

are not prescribed on the menu and/or under supplying 

the school, shall be disallowed in accordance with the 

menu items that were not fed/supplied and/or under 

supplied. 

18.3.4 Where there are persistent serious deviations on the 

menu and which shall impact negatively on the 

objectives of NSNP, and after the service provider has 

failed to adhere to the department’s warnings; the 

DOE-Head Office shall reserve the right to terminate 

the contract with defaulting service provider and/or 

black list the service provider from having any future 

Contracts with NSNP and/or KZN-DOE. 

18.3.5 The onus to ensure that prescribed menus are served 

to learners in the school at all times shall be upon 

both the SGB and SMT as provided for in this document 

under roles and responsibilities. 

18.4 Food Safety and Hygiene 

In order for the learners to remain healthy, the food that 

they eat should not only be nutritious but also clean and 

safe for consumption. Measures should be implemented in 

schools to prevent food borne diseases or food poisoning. 

18.4.1 Where food poisoning is suspected, the food item 

consumed on the day shall be avoided/excluded, and 

18.4.2 A sample of the meal consumed shall be taken to 

the Environmental Health Section of the Department 

of Health for analysis. 

18.4.3 Learners shall be referred to the clinic /hospital 

for proper medical care. 


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18.4.4 The school shall report incidents of food 

poisoning to the district office. 

18.5 Gas Safety 

18.5.1 Installation of gas stoves and gas cylinders shall be 

according to the approved standards by the LPGSA. 

18.5.2 Each school shall request a certificate of compliance 

from the service provider upon Installation of gas 

stoves. 

18.5.3 Proper care and safety measures shall be adhered to 

at all times when using gas. 

18.5.4 The SGB and SMT shall ensure that reasonable care and 

precautions are taken in the school to prevent medico- 

legal hazards. 

18. 6 School vendors and tuck shops 

Food choices and food items directly sold by school vendors 

have a direct impact on child nutrition and related 

illnesses. All schools shall be required to adhere to the 

following guiding principles: 

18.6.1 Each school shall be required to have the food based 

dietary guidelines as the basis for translating 

information to its learners. 

18.6.2 The school shall be required to have a database of 

all individuals selling food items in and around 

school premises. 

18.6.3 Every school shall be required to have a written 

vending policy that shall be displayed in the 

principal’s office and enforced by the SMT and 

Nutrition Committee/and or educators responsible for 

NSNP in the school. 

18.6.4 Illegal drugs and any other addictive substances 

shall under no circumstances be sold to learners. 

18.6.5 Each vendor and/or tuck shop owner shall be required 

to sign an agreement in compliance with the school 

vending policy. 


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18.6.6 The SGB and the SMT shall have the right to 

discipline and/or terminate the services of a non 

complying vendor and/or tuck shop. 

18.7 National calendar events 

18.7.1 Nutrition related calendar events shall be celebrated 

by all schools 

19. SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION 

19.1 Food gardens are one of the poverty alleviation 

strategies implemented in schools. The strategy focuses 

on developing skills and knowledge that enhances the 

potential of disadvantaged communities to live healthy 

lives. 

19.2 Food Production initiatives should not be seen mainly 

, as a source of income for the school or as a 

substitute for the existing school feeding programme 

but rather as a means to impart knowledge, experience 

and practical skill on food production. 

19.3 The implementation of vegetable gardens shall be 

promoted in all schools in the province. 

19.3.1 Criteria for the implementation of vegetable gardens: 

19.3.1.1 All schools shall be encouraged to have vegetable 

gardens. 

19.3.1.2 A school that has a vegetable garden shall enter 

into an agreement (Annexure H) with the service 

provider of the school. 

19.3.1.3 One food handler in a school with learners more 

than 200 shall be responsible for the food garden. 

19.3.1.4 The food handler or grounds person shall be paid 

a stipend as indicated by the Department which shall be 

subject to review every financial year. 

19.3.1.5 Training of the grounds people shall be conducted 

by the Agricultural Colleges. 

19.3.1.6 Learners shall be encouraged to assist in the 

gardens as a way of gaining skills in food production; 

under no circumstance shall working on food production 


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initiatives be used as punishment for the learners by 

educators. 

19.3.2 Vegetable Tunnels: 

19.3.2.1 The Department shall select schools for the 

installation of vegetable tunnels. 

19.3.2.2 Schools shall be trained on the maintenance of the 

tunnels by the Department. 

19.3.3 Nurseries: 

19.3.3.1 The KZN-DOE shall be responsible for the selection 

of schools for the installation of nurseries. 

19.3.3.2 Each nursery shall be responsible for the supply of 

seedlings to twelve other schools in the area. 

19.3.3.3 The schools shall be trained by KZN-DOE on the 

maintenance of the nursery. 

20. CONFLICT OF INTERESTS 

20.1 The educators, school officials, principals of schools, 

departmental officials including but 

not limited to NSNP officials at district and Head 

office levels and/or any other government officials 

shall under no circumstances be allowed to bid/contest 

for NSNP contract and /or enter into an agreement with 

feeding schools as service providers. 

20.2 The members of the SGB’s shall not be allowed to bid or 

contest for NSNP contract in the schools where they are 

members. 

20.3 The family members and/or close relatives of SMT and 

SGB of the school to which contract is sought shall not 

be allowed to bid/contest in that school. 

20.4 Any form of breach or contravention to the above 

stipulations shall if proven result in the affected 

parties being charged with fraud or corruption in line 

with the relevant South 

African laws. 


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21. FRAUD AND IRREGULARITIES 

21.1 General Stipulations 

21.1.1 All persons entrusted with financial accounting and 

duties as detailed in these instructions must ensure 

that they acquaint themselves with the statutory 

regulations relating to the task assigned to them. 

21.1.2 Persons entrusted with financial and accounting 

duties must take note that any irregularities in the 

handling and control of funds; and that any 

contravention of these instructions shall have serious 

legal implications on guilty party. 

21.1.3 Where there shall be any irregularities or non- 

compliance with the NSNP procedures and stipulations as 

laid down in this policy document and NSNP Operational 

Guidelines, the Department will not hesitate to 

institute the necessary investigation and act 

accordingly. 

21.1.4 The SGB’s and SMT’s of participating schools shall be 

obliged to ensure that irregularities are reported 

immediately. Where any person/s shall be implicated in 

fraudulent or irregular activities in respect of the 

implementation of the NSNP, the Department shall not 

hesitate to institute criminal charges of fraud and 

corruption against the implicated person/s. 

21.2 Investigation Unit 

21.2.1 The Department of Education has established an 

Investigation Unit that investigates all matters 

relating to allegations of fraud and corruption and the 

NSNP undoubtedly also form part of the scope of its 

operation. 

21.2.2 Where necessary, the NSNP Directorate shall refer all 

matters of alleged fraudulent activities or 

irregularities to this unit for extensive investigation 

and for appropriate corrective measures thereof 


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21.3 Departmental Hotline 

21.3.1 The Department of Education has a hotline for the 

public to report any irregularities regarding the 

implementation of NSNP. 

21.3.2 Parents of learners and members of the public shall 

be encouraged to use this facility with a choice of 

remaining anonymous to report any acts of fraud or 

irregularities in NSNP. 

22. REFERENCES 

a. The Constitution of the Republic of South 

Africa,1994 

b. KwaZulu Natal Department of Education: National 

School Nutrition Programme Operational Guidelines 

2009/10 

c. National Department of Education: Operational 

Guidelines 2004 

d. South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 

e. Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) of 1999 

f. Division of Revenue Act (DORA) 

g. Food, Cosmetics & Disinfectants Act,1996 

h. Labour Relations Act 


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