Durban – The Spar Group, one of the big retailers in South Africa and the African continent, was initially set to participate in the R2.1 billion schools nutrition programme, but abruptly pulled out.
This emerged in a leaked letter it sent to Prince Manzini Zungu, the owner of Pacina Retail (Pty) Ltd, the company that won the tender.
Manzini, through Pacina Retail, owns several Spar franchisees outside KwaZulu-Natal and that was confirmed in a letter Spar sent to Umsinsi Movement on Monday.
NEWS: It has since emerged that the Spar Group initially showed a willingness to participate ( on pilot basis) in the now-doomed R2.1 billion KwaZulu-Natal schools’ nutrition programme. However, it later pulled out, telling Pacina Retail that it does not have the capacity. @IOL pic.twitter.com/UCMBohQVrH
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) April 25, 2023
This was after the civic movement questioned the role of Spar in the entire debacle that has left thousands of school learners hungry and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education scrambling to salvage the programme.
In its letter of withdrawal, dated March 24, 2023 and signed by Angelo Swartz, the managing director of Spar in KwaZulu-Natal, it said it does not have the capacity to fulfil the requirements for the tender.
“You have informed us that you have been awarded the tender for the distribution of the KZN School Nutrition programme.
NEWS: Another school located in the Ilembe district has announced that it is cutting its schooling hours because it has not received its foodstuff for learners. This comes as the KZN schools nutrition programme continues to collapse, leaving thousands of learners hungry. @IOL pic.twitter.com/7dRMVPV5IA
“I would like to highlight that our participation in this programme was restricted to providing supply and logistical assistance for a limited scope, i.e, we would be willing to ‘pilot’ the project for one area, as defined in the tender scope, and we would only be able to commence supply and assistance from June 1, 2023.
“Given that you have now been awarded the full tender, we have made it clear that at the moment, our supply and assistance cannot currently meet the scope of the full tender,” Swartz told Manzini.
Manzini was also told to inform the department of the latest developments.
NEWS: The ANC in KZN says it will on Wed hold a press conference to communicate what it called “bold and decisive actions to be undertaken” by its government regarding the ongoing school's nutrition debacle. The party has been left redfaced after the failure of the scheme. @IOL pic.twitter.com/i206VTcjhN
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) April 25, 2023
“With reference to your recent award of the DoE tender and in line with our various discussions, we confirm that in terms of your most recent agreement with me, you will be required to:
“1. Inform the DoE that Spar KZN are unable to fulfil the full tender scope and that as such an alternative arrangement has been agreed.
"This must be in writing and we require confirmation of such written correspondence.
“2. Submit an application for Credit Facilities, which process shall be subject to due diligence.
“3. Place orders with our Distribution Centre, which orders shall be subject to:
“a. Availability of stock from the Distribution Centre and/or suppliers.
“b. Payment for such goods, in advance, upon receipt of our quotation.
“c. Followed by delivery of goods to a warehouse facility which you indicated you would set up.
JUST IN: Former KZN Education MEC distances himself school nutrition crisishttps://t.co/IGuB5B2lCq
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) April 25, 2023
“4. Submit a listing of your product requirements which will exclude Spar Brand products at least 21 days in advance.
“5. Have the necessary staff and equipment to take delivery at your warehouse, of all orders to be delivered, whether through the Distribution Centre or SODS.
“6. Take responsibility for the distribution of all such goods to the various locations defined by the tender.”’
It is not yet clear whether Manzini told the department about the sudden changes which were communicated to him a few weeks before schools in the province opened for the second term.
The department and the Spar group are yet to comment on the latest developments and their comments will be added once received.
On Tuesday morning, in a statement, former KZN MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu, distanced himself from the ongoing debacle, saying he has nothing to do with it.
He said he has been unjustly blamed for the collapsed programme which has negatively impacted schools mainly in the Ugu, Amajuba, Umkhanyakude, King Cetshwayo, uThukela and Zululand districts.
Furthermore, Mshengu said the current format of the programme was not what the provincial government under Premier Sihle Zikalala had adopted and sent to the Department of Basic Education for approval.
He said it had been changed, but did not state by whom.
“The facts and evidence I intend to adduce will prove that the current system of NSNP is materially different, both in form and content, to the concept that was approved by the Provincial Executive Council under the leadership of former Premier Zikalala and was subject to the final approval by the National Department of Basic Education,” Mshengu said.
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