the Eastern Cape feeding scheme developments
10 October 2007
The South African Human Rights Commission will, as part of its
constitutional mandate, continue to monitor developments regarding the
re-establishment of the Eastern Cape Primary School Nutrition Programme, after
its collapse earlier in the year due to maladministration allegations.
According to media reports thousands of Eastern Cape schoolchildren are
going hungry after the province's new school feeding system collapsed before it
got off the ground. Problems apparently arose after the contracts of previous
suppliers for the programme were not renewed to make way for smaller
community-based suppliers and co-operatives, which had been unable to
deliver.
Based on these allegations it would appear that there was a disregard for
children's rights, and the Commission reiterates that Section 27 (1) (b) of the
Bill of Rights states, "everyone has the rights to have access to sufficient
food". This right is extended to everyone but the Constitution gives extra
protection to children in Section 28 (1) (c) by providing that "every child has
a right to basic nutrition".
Despite the enactment of constitutional and legal obligations, a high
proportion of children in South Africa still suffer from abuse and injustice on
a daily basis. Increasingly, children are becoming vulnerable as their
survival, care, protection and development is compromised due to circumstances
which negatively affect the fulfilment of their rights.
The South African society is fraught with many challenges such as the
scourge of HIV and AIDS, a rapidly growing proportion of orphans and child
headed households, high unemployment and poverty, rising crime levels and
family disintegration which compromise children's right to survival,
development, care and protection.
It is within the context of child survival and protection that the
government instituted the Integrated Nutrition Programme (INP) which aims to
address sound nutrition, food and health security. It is therefore very
disheartening to see such a positive initiative being allegedly thwarted by
unscrupulous individuals.
The Commission commends the Eastern Cape Premier for instituting forensic
investigations into alleged irregularities into the School Nutrition Programme
and it is the explicit wish of the Commission that the law will take its course
speedily.
The Democratic Alliance has already lodged a complaint with the Commission
on this matter.
Enquiries:
Ms Joy Mehlomakulu
SAHRC Child Rights Co-ordinator
Cell: 076 935 7133
Mr Vincent Moaga
Cell: 073 562 9866
Issued by: South African Human Rights Commission
10 October 2007
Source: South African Human Rights Commission (http://www.sahrc.org.za)
