National School Nutrition Programme; Learner Transport Scheme: WCED briefing

Meeting report

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) team was led by Mr Alan Meyer, Deputy Director-General: Institutional Development and Coordination. An apology was noted from Provincial Minister David Maynier, who was unavailable for the meeting.

National School Nutrition Programme

Mr Alan Meyer, Deputy Director-General: Institutional Development and Coordination, Western Cape Education Department (WCED), highlighted the critical role of the National School Nutrition Programme within the WCED’s efforts to ensure quality education. Many learners in the country live below the poverty line, making the need to feed learners an essential part of supporting their effective participation in the school system.

Mr Meyer recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme provided daily meals not only to learners but also to their families and other community members in need. He acknowledged the Provincial Parliament’s recognition of the programme’s impact, which led to an additional allocation from the provincial treasury to extend its reach.

The programme currently feeds over 5 million children daily, providing both breakfast and lunch in most cases. In specific situations, particularly over weekends, some schools offer take-home food packages for learners and their families to ensure they have meals until the next school week.

Mr Meyer expressed pride in the dedication of the field workers, who are present in every district across the province, ensuring that meals are served in a dignified manner according to the menu provided to schools.

Ms Lindelwa Dlulemnyango-Sopotela, Director: School Nutrition Programme, presented the budget allocation for 2024/25. The national allocation amounted to R531 615 million, while the provincial allocation to augment the national conditional grant was R71 290 million, bringing the total funding to R602 905 million. The programme provided daily meals to 535 110 learners across 1 053 schools in the province.

Budget Allocation Breakdown

The budget was allocated according to prescribed weightings for primary, secondary, and special schools. The Division of Revenue Act (DoRA) mandated that 97% of the budget be spent on feeding, with the remaining 3% covering administration, kitchen facilities, equipment, and nutrition education.

Average Cost Per Learner

The average cost per learner per day was R4.88 for primary and special schools in Quintiles 1–3.

R5.01 for secondary schools in the same quintiles, and R4.04 for primary schools in Quintiles 4–5.

Secondary schools in Quintiles 4–5 received R4.29 per learner.

Beneficiaries of the Programme

The programme's beneficiaries, including 527 primary schools with 310 377 learners, 102 secondary schools with 130 110 learners, and 53 special schools with 14 173 learners.

Moreover, 284 primary schools and 59 secondary schools in Quintiles 4–5 benefited from the programme. The number of learners fed increased by 23 333, and the number of schools increased by 24 from March 2023 to September 2024.

Pillars of the NSNP

The NSNP operated under three main pillars: school feeding, nutrition education, and sustainable food production. Quintile 4–5 learners, who were previously fed fewer days, now received meals for all 209 school days in the current financial year. The programme included nutrition education campaigns on hygiene and deworming, and sustainable food production through food gardens in schools. At the time, 571 gardens were in operation across the province, with 75 gardeners appointed through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

Achievements

WCED had transferred R12 070 million to schools in the 2024–2025 financial year to replenish old kitchen equipment.

Challenges

Despite the success of the programme, challenges remained, such as limited coverage for Quintile 4–5 learners, which reached only 40% of those in need. Burglaries and thefts of food occurred in some areas, with 7 schools experiencing these incidents, 3 in the metro and 4 in rural regions. Also many kitchens required repairs or replacement, and storage facilities were inadequate.

Impact of the NSNP

The programme had a positive impact on learner attendance, punctuality, and retention. The introduction of chicken livers to the menu had helped meet the nutritional needs of learners, and the programme had been instrumental in addressing hunger, particularly in the foundation phase.

Learner Transport Scheme

Mr Paul Swart, Director: Institutional Resource Support, outlined the application process and monitoring of Learner Transport Scheme (LTS) operations.

LTS Policy Scope and Application

The policy applies to learners in public, ordinary schools in rural areas of the Western Cape who live more than 5 kilometres from the nearest appropriate school, where no public transport is available. Under exceptional circumstances, the Head of Department may authorise the provision of a learner transport scheme, based on the merits of the case.

Learner Transport Provision

A table reflected the information on learners and schools provided with transport. The table outlined the district names, the number of schools provided with learner transport, and the number of learners approved for transport. The total number of schools benefiting from the transport scheme was 499, with a total of 67 992 learners approved for transport in 2024/25. A budget of R598 542 million had been allocated for the facilitation of this transport.

LTS Operating Procedures

WCED had developed a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) document. This SOP expanded on the requirements of the LTS policy and outlined the responsibilities of all stakeholders, including head office, districts, and schools, in the management and monitoring of the LTS in the province.

Bus Committee

The Bus Committee is appointed by the Accounting Officer (Head of Department). The Committee consists of managers from various directorates, with the Chief Directorate of Physical Resources serving as the Chairperson and the Chief Directorate of Districts as the Deputy Chairperson. Other members include the Directorate of Financial Management and the Directorate of Institutional Management and Governance. The Committee reviews all LTS applications to ensure alignment with the LTS policy and makes recommendations based on the information submitted.

LTS Application Process

The need for transport is identified at schools, where qualifying learners are identified, and an application is initiated electronically via the Centralised Educational Management Information System (CEMIS) system. The district managers confirm the need and support the application. The application is then verified by the Directorate of Institutional Resource Support at head office. Upon verification, the application is submitted to the Bus Committee for consideration and recommendation. If the application aligns with the policy, it is forwarded to the Programme Manager for approval; if outside the policy, it requires approval from the Head of Department. After approval, the district and school are informed, and the procurement process for the transport contract is initiated. Once the contract is awarded, the school principal meets with the transport contractor to discuss the contract terms, and learners are transported daily as per the contract.

Monitoring of LTS Operations

Mr Swart outlined the monitoring processes for the LTS at various levels. At the school level, the school is required to conduct periodic visual inspections of the vehicles using a monitoring tool. This helps ensure that the LTS contractor complies with the contract conditions. Districts also conduct route and vehicle inspections, visiting the schools to confirm administrative processes are in place. The head office is responsible for maintaining policy, updating the SOP as needed, and managing a centralized vehicle database to ensure vehicles are not used for multiple routes.

Discussion

The Chairperson thanked the presenters for their valuable contributions.

Mr F Christians (ACDP) raised a matter that he had previously discussed with Mr Meyer and WCED which remained unresolved. He referred to the closure of a primary school by the WCED, which led to learners being forced to stay at the hostel in Mossel Bay. According to the community, learners were not attending school as a result of the closure, which Mr Christians believed was an issue created by the WCED. He requested an update on the transport situation, noting that although transport was provided for 36 out of 48 weekends, the children were still unable to attend school due to the closure. Mr Christians asked for a written response if the Department was unable to provide the necessary information immediately, as the parents were still in the dark. His letter to the HOD dated 29 April 2024, had yet to receive a response, and he was hoping for a timeline on when communication would be received to address the parents' concerns.

Mr T Walters (DA) raised concerns about understanding the data provided, which was crucial for effective oversight. He used food gardens as an example and inquired if reliable data was available on the number of children and schools benefiting from these programmes, as well as the frequency and overall extent of the benefit over time. He asked if there was data that could shed light on how many learners were receiving ongoing food security, to understand both the number of schools benefiting and the frequency of the food distribution.

Ms A Cassiem (EFF) inquired about the frequency with which the Department conducts inspections of transportation arrangements at various schools, particularly about the taxis transporting students. There were complaints from parents in Mitchells Plain, Cape Metro, about over speeding taxis. How many taxis or taxi drivers in the province currently hold valid permits to transport schoolchildren? She requested a follow-up on the report on the Little Sparrows investigation, which had been promised during the previous Committee meeting but had not yet been received.

Mr K Sayed (ANC) noted the school nutrition programme budget on slide 3 and the R71 million allocated specifically to learners in Quintiles 4 and 5 schools. He requested an estimate of the funding required to provide for all deserving learners.

[There was a technical error leading to the rest of the questions to be not be captured. The video does continue with Mr Meyer providing responses]

Responses

Mr Meyer explained that the Department did not monitor private transport provided by service providers to parents. However, the Department of Mobility collaborated with the City of Cape Town and encouraged regular interventions at various sites. For example, following the tragic accident in Mitchells Plain last year, which resulted in the loss of five lives, a major blitz was organised. During this blitz, metro police and law enforcement stopped vehicles to inspect their roadworthiness and check if they were permitted to transport learners.

Taxi Permits for Learner Transport

On the permits required for taxis to transport learners, Mr Meyer indicated that there was a specific process that taxis needed to follow in partnership with the Department of Mobility to obtain these permits. Mr Swart would provide further clarification.

Little Sparrows’ Report

Mr Meyer confirmed the Little Sparrows investigation report had been forwarded to the Head of Department's office. The report was expected to be sent to the Committee shortly.

Food Gardens Data

Mr Meyer said he took pride in the number of schools that had established food gardens to benefit learners and encouraged learners to cultivate produce at home. His colleague would provide a further response on this, with a full written answer to follow later.

Herbertsdale Hostel and Transport Concerns

Mr Meyer had met personally with the parents of the learners at Vleiplaas Primary School. In the meeting, discussions were held with district officials and other stakeholders. The parents expressed satisfaction with the conditions at the Herbertsdale hostel, including that their children were well-fed and a contact person had been employed at the school to facilitate communication between the school and parents.

However, one parent raised a concern, as they had placed their child with a family member whose child was attending the Herbertsdale Primary School but not using the hostel facilities. Despite this, all the parents Mr Meyer had spoken to were satisfied with the arrangements at the hostel.

Mr Swart stated that the Vleiplaas community had initially applied for weekend transport for learners from the hostel to the school. He clarified that this type of transport was not part of the Department’s policy nor the learner transport scheme, which only covered daily transport from home to school. The request for transport between the hostel and the school was outside the scope of the policy.

Due to the absence of a policy on weekend transport, Mr Swart explained that a submission was made to the Head of Education, requesting transport for learners every second weekend. While the Department could not commit to a weekly service due to budget constraints and the potential for setting a precedent, it was agreed that transport would be provided on a fortnightly basis. This arrangement was approved and continued in the following year.

When the community was informed of this decision, they insisted on daily transport. However, Mr Swart emphasised the significant budget allocated to maintaining the hostel and the need to avoid wasteful expenditure. Considerable investment had been made in the hostel infrastructure, which allowed children to use their time productively, as they could study in the afternoons instead of spending time travelling.

The Head of Education was urged to consider the situation on a case-by-case basis. Mr Swart reiterated that while the Department could not fully commit to providing daily transport, the fortnightly arrangement was an acceptable compromise, given the limitations of the learner transport budget. He concluded that, should additional funding become available, such transport would likely fall under a different budget category, as it would not be part of the learner transport scheme.

Ms Dlulemnyango-Sopotela addressed food security in the province, focusing on the number of functional and sustainable food gardens. There were currently 571 gardens across 1 053 schools. Of these, 218 schools had functional gardens, which was a crucial requirement for ensuring their sustainability. However, as funding for the programme was provided through the incentive grant, the exact amount of funding for appointing gardeners remained uncertain.

For 2024/25, WCED planned to employ 143 gardeners, while the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) was funding 75 gardeners to maintain the existing 218. She could not provide an accurate number of learners benefiting from the gardens today but promised to return with the necessary data. However, the programme regularly received daily statistics from the schools, which were reported to the district offices, and from there to the head office.

Ms Dlulemnyango-Sopotela clarified that food gardens were no longer budgeted for from the conditional grant. Previously, a portion of the funding was allocated for this purpose, but the money had since been redirected to the other campaigns, and the Department had not received those funds back. She expressed difficulty in managing this aspect of the programme without sufficient funding.

On the nutritional portions in the schools, only 40% of learners in Quintiles 4 and 5 were fed, and the quantities were smaller than those served in primary and secondary schools. For example, a typical Monday menu in primary schools included 40 grams of starch, 40 grams of protein, and 60 grams of vegetables, whereas in Quintiles 4 and 5, the quantities were 40 grams of starch, 30 grams of protein, and 40 grams of vegetables. She did not have an estimation of the cost of feeding 100% of learners in Quintiles 4 and 5 but such information could be calculated and provided on request.

Further discussion

The Chairperson said that the Committee would appreciate it if the facts and descriptions provided on the Vleiplaas matter could be put in writing. He had also received numerous comments on the hostel situation in Herbertsdale, even before his appointment to the committee. This would be beneficial for Members as it would enable them to respond more effectively to any further comments and ensure they were better informed in addressing this matter.

Ms D Stephens (PA) thanked raised concern that not all schools were enrolled in the feeding scheme. In schools where the programme was effectively implemented, positive results had been reported, such as increased school attendance and improved learner grades. Due to high levels of unemployment, poverty, reliance on grants, and large family size, many children were unable to be fed and often went hungry. Food insecurity and poverty affected learners across the country, and the national nutrition programme was not adequately addressing this. Severe risks were posed by childhood malnutrition, which hindered learners' ability to focus and impaired their scholastic abilities.

Ms Stephens said that there were numerous challenges for the feeding schemes, including load shedding, water shortages, theft, insufficient supplies, and poor-quality produce. These placed a heavy burden on educators and hindered the effectiveness of the programme. What steps would be taken to ensure more schools received the feeding scheme, particularly in rural areas, as this was crucial for addressing the problem?

Ms R Windvogel (ANC) thanked the Chairperson and added to the question raised by Mr Sayed particularly on funding. She asked about the ongoing efforts to engage with the national Minister to expand the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) to cover more learners, especially those in Quintile 4 and 5 schools. Given the substantial number of learners in these grades who qualified for inclusion, she sought clarification on what measures were being taken in light of the current budgetary constraints.

Ms Windvogel raised an issue about learner transport, noting that she faced a similar problem to Mr Christians. She had sent a letter to the National Head of Department on the Department's decision to cancel the bus service for learners from Vredebes attending Morrisdale Primary School. She asked how long the bus route had been operational and how many learners had utilised it. She asked for the reasons for cancelling the transport contract for this route, what alternative arrangements had been made for the affected learners, and what measures were in place to prevent absenteeism and dropouts as a result of the cancellation.

Ms W Kaizer-Philander (ANC) noted the unfortunate instances of theft in the NSNP which affected not only learners but also their families. She asked how these criminal activities ad affected the learners and the impact on school infrastructure.

Ms Kaizer-Philander asked for an indication of the success rate in apprehending criminals who broke into schools to steal food supplies, as well as those who purchased the stolen goods. People within the community were likely aware of who was stealing the food and who was buying it.

The Chairperson pointed out that the school nutrition budget is R603 million, and the learner transport budget is R598 million, which brings the total expenditure in these two critical areas to roughly R1.2 billion. A significant portion of the school feeding programme is funded by the national government, with the province contributing an additional R71 million to help meet the overall budget.

He acknowledged the tightness of the education budget and wondered what more could be done to alleviate the financial pressure in these essential sectors. It is important to ensure that the school feeding programme works well and learners in need receive the proper nutrition. Only 40% of learners in quintile 4 and quintile 5 schools are currently benefiting from the programme and it would be useful to estimate the additional cost required to extend the programme to more learners.

The Chairperson spoke about the importance of food gardens in educating young learners about from where food comes. He mentioned discussions with farmers who often have excess produce that could be donated to schools and asked how a system could be developed to channel such assistance. He raised the question of how to sustain the food gardens and what would be needed in terms of additional gardeners to manage them effectively.

The Chairperson shared his calculations, which suggest that the average spend per learner for nutrition provision is between R1 100 and R1 200 per year. He highlighted the need for a thorough consideration of how to supplement the monetary contributions already made by the province.

Learner transport per learner is approximately R8 800 per year. This is a substantial amount, especially when compared to the overall education budget, which averages R25 000 to R26 000 per learner per year. He suggested that there may be ways to reduce transport costs and asked for comments on how to tackle this challenge.

The Chairperson raised concerns about the reliability of the transport service, particularly in the Wilderness area to George route, where there have been complaints about buses breaking down. He acknowledged that monitoring transport services is a major undertaking and asked for insights on this.

Mr Christians expressed his satisfaction with the explanations provided by Mr Swart and Mr Meyer, noting that he had contacted a community leader to arrange a meeting to discuss the latest developments, particularly on concerns about learner dropout rates and access to food. While he did not have specific figures at hand, he emphasised the importance of addressing these issues promptly.

Mr Christians asked Mr Meyer about correspondence with WCED, highlighting past frustrations where multiple letters had been sent without receiving responses. He inquired about the most effective way to ensure a timely response to such complaints, noting that while contacting Mr Meyer directly had proven helpful in the past, newer Members might find the lack of response frustrating and would benefit from guidance on navigating this.

He reiterated the critical importance of school nutrition and transportation, recognising the limited resources available. He noted the challenge of feeding learners while also ensuring they have reliable and safe transportation to school. He stressed the importance of ensuring that transport services for learners are conducted safely to avoid accidents that have occurred in the past.

Mr Christians commended WCED for addressing food security over weekends, referencing a previous question about providing learners with food to take home when school is not in session. He acknowledged the complexity of these challenges but it was important to keep learners in school to prevent them from falling into negative influences such as drugs and gangs. His focus remained on enabling learners to complete their education, contributing to the economy rather than becoming dependent on state resources.

Further Responses

Mr Meyer replied about the impact of the NSNP on learners saying it significantly improved both the health and learning capabilities of children. WCED maintained a stringent policy on expired food items supplied to schools. Service providers were required to replace any expired goods at no cost to the schools. Recent audits by the Auditor General confirmed adherence to these standards, and any expired goods found were promptly addressed.

On energy supply, Mr Meyer explained that the use of gas for cooking ensured that load shedding did not disrupt the provision of meals. Schools were required to provide gas safety certificates, and kitchen staff received training on handling gas equipment. Gas storage was located outside cooking facilities, enhancing safety.

Mr Meyer acknowledged challenges posed by water shortages in certain areas but highlighted measures taken during previous droughts, such as providing schools with boreholes and water pumps. He confirmed that these measures helped ensure that nutritious meals could still be prepared.

On funding and coverage of the NSNP, he agreed with the suggestion to engage the national minister to advocate for increased allocations to include more learners. This was a critical conversation at the political level, and WCED consistently supported calls for additional resources.

On criminal activities affecting the NSNP, Mr Meyer admitted that theft of food supplies impacted learners’ access to meals. However, arrangements were in place to redistribute supplies from other schools or districts when necessary. He cited an example where stolen tinned pilchards were found in a shop in the Retreat area. Despite photographic evidence, law enforcement had not pursued the matter due to low chances of a successful prosecution by South African Police Service (SAPS). He assured Members that every theft case was logged, tracked, and discussed with law enforcement during regular safety meetings.

On the NSNP cost, Mr Meyer gave a breakdown noting it amounted to about R 1 000 per learner annually, or R5.74 per day for two meals. Bulk purchasing helped maximise the limited budget.

Mr Meyer addressed learner transport concerns, explaining that parents struggling to afford private transport services could apply for subsidies. These subsidies provided financial relief where formal bus routes were unavailable.

Mr Meyer recommended that Members send letters to the Head of Department (HOD) via the email address [email protected]. This ensured administrative tracking and timely responses. He suggested copying the communication to the Parliamentary Liaison Officer for additional oversight.

Mr Meyer encouraged Mr Christians to engage with the acting principal and district officials on concerns at the primary school. He reiterated his commitment to investigating any pending correspondence and providing feedback to the Committee.

Mr Swart explained that the inquiry raised by the Member is still under review by the Head of Education. The matter had been referred to his office for investigation, and a response was submitted to the Head of Education. However, further clarity was requested, and he is scheduled to meet the Head of Education on Friday to address specific points before a formal response is issued.

On the bus route in question, Mr Swart highlighted that it concerns Route 074, which serves learners traveling to Morrisdale Primary and Ceres Secondary Schools. There are 248 learners currently approved for transport on this route, including those picked up at Vredebes. However, the crux of the issue lies in the distance criteria: while the distance between Vredebes and Ceres Secondary School exceeds five kilometres, the distance to Morrisdale Primary is only 3.5 kilometres. This disqualified the application for 50 learners from Vredebes to Morrisdale Primary, as it did not meet the minimum distance requirement for transport assistance.

An inspection of the route leading to Morrisdale Primary had been conducted, with supporting pictures submitted for consideration by the Bus Committee. He suggested that some primary school learners may have previously travelled on the route due to the proximity of their pickup point to their destinations. However, this arrangement was likely discontinued after the application was denied, as the contractor would not be reimbursed for transporting these learners.

Mr Swart assured the Committee that he would provide feedback to the Head of Education on Friday, after which a formal response would be issued.

On the concern about the condition of buses and the transportation areas, WCED and districts maintain good relationships with the Department of Mobility. District officials can contact traffic authorities to conduct route inspections or remove non-compliant buses from operation. Members should report such issues to the district, which has the capacity to address them, including involving legal and traffic officials for enforcement.

On the transport subsidy, learners meeting the criteria could apply for an annual subsidy of R 5 860.

Ms Dlulemnyango-Sopotela discussed the expansion of learner numbers in Quintile 4 and 5 schools. She referred to the policy on this matter, noting that the Department of Education is responsible for providing meals to learners in Quintiles 1 to 3, including primary, secondary, and special schools. The challenge arises with Quintile 4 and 5 schools, which primarily exist in the Western Cape and Gauteng, as these are not included in the regular funding scheme under the DoRA.

Some provinces have adjusted the status of their schools, shifting Quintile 4 and 5 schools to Quintile 3 to qualify for funding. Western Cape schools are encouraged to apply to be classified as “no-fee” schools. However, no-fee schools only receive funding for 40% of their learners, which further complicates matters.

Ms Dlulemnyango-Sopotela explained that for years, 307 Quintile 4 and 5 schools had been fed using a conditional grant. However, this number has increased to 343 schools, which now exceeds the funding available, making it challenging to feed all learners under the current budget. She suggested that this issue should be escalated to senior officials, including the Minister of Education, to explore possible solutions.

On non-feeding instances, she reassured the Committee that such cases were rare. If a school experiences challenges such as a water shortage preventing them from cooking, WCED offers an uncooked menu with basic items such as bread, jam, peanut butter and pilchards. Schools are expected to report this promptly and district coordinators are tasked with making alternative provisions.

On monitoring and evaluation (M&E), each district has two to three M&E officials depending on the size of the district. These officials conduct regular monitoring visits to schools, with each district having a set quota for visits based on the number of schools and officials.

Ms Dlulemnyango-Sopotela clarified that while seven schools were affected by theft this year—three in the Metro area and four in rural districts—there was no significant impact on food provision for learners. The stolen items were primarily gas cylinders and pots, and the stolen food did not affect feeding programmes. She stressed that incidents of theft are reported to the police, and Safe Schools is informed to ensure proper investigations.

On expired stock, the contract with service providers includes provision for the collection and disposal of expired goods. WCED takes measures to prevent stockpiling, particularly in Quintile 1 and 3 schools. If stockpiling occurs, redistributed food is prioritised for Quintile 4 and 5 schools.

Ms Dlulemnyango-Sopotela concluded by supporting the idea of collaborating with farmers who have excess produce, encouraging them to submit a list to the Director-General’s office. The Assistant Director responsible for sustainable food production, would be the main contact for the farmers. She emphasised the importance of supplementary produce from food gardens, as it enhances the meals provided to schools.

Follow-up discussion

Ms Windvogel sought clarity on the LTS policy and operating procedure, particularly why the services were discontinued after being available for a long time. She asked for an explanation on this change.

Mr Meyer explained that the policy in question was not new but was an existing policy on learner transport. He speculated that the service provider had stopped transporting the learners because they were no longer being compensated. This may have led to the service provider informing the learners that they could no longer board the bus. There are instances where bus companies, without authorisation, transport learners and later request additional funding for the routes, once they realise they are carrying more learners than initially planned. In such cases, the reason for transporting additional learners is often unclear, making it difficult to determine the origin of these extra learners.

Mr Swart clarified that while the transport route between Vredebes and Morrisdale Primary was authorised for 248 learners; there were cases of unauthorised learners boarding the bus. He speculated that these learners may have been allowed on the bus by the contractor, who possibly made space available due to a lower number of passengers than usual. Contractors sometimes allow extra learners to board without proper authorisation to avoid confrontation, particularly when parents pressure the driver to pick up additional children.

Mr Swart explained that while WCED had not approved the transportation of the extra learners, there were cases where parents demanded their children be allowed on the bus. In such instances, the contractors would report back to WCED, seeking formal approval for the additional learners. However, he emphasised that all transport services must be officially requested and approved to ensure proper funding and compensation for contractors.

He highlighted the difficulty in controlling the number of learners boarding a bus at any given time and the pressure placed on contractors by parents to accommodate additional children. Ultimately, formal applications must be made for learner transport to ensure compliance with policy and proper remuneration for service providers.

Closing Remarks

The Chairperson thanked Mr Meyer and his team for their insightful presentations and the explanations provided. The information shared had provided a greater understanding. The WCED team could be released.

Mr Meyer encouraged Members to contact the WCED offices should further information be required.

Committee Resolutions

The Chairperson mentioned that the next task on the agenda was to consider any resolutions, recommendations, or requests for additional information from WCED. the Procedural Officer had informed him that the minutes from the previous meeting would be presented at the next meeting due to technical issues with the laptop.

Ms Windvogel expressed concern about the slow pace of responding to learner transport issues, fearing it made the government appear uncaring. She emphasized the need to prioritise people’s needs and suggested that the Committee conduct an oversight visit to engage with the school governing body and senior officials or the principal of the school.

The Chairperson acknowledged her concerns, confirming that a visit to the school would be arranged. He proposed organising a second visit elsewhere on the same day to make the process more worthwhile and mentioned that input from members was needed for proper planning.

Mr Walters said it was important to use empirical evidence to assess the impact of interventions, such as food gardens. He suggested that the Committee explore data points to measure the effectiveness of learner transport and food security. He recommended comparing data sets with crime statistics and sports participation rates to assess the Western Cape provincial government’s impact and assist the province in engaging with the national government on resource allocation.

The Chairperson agreed that there was more leverage to be exercised in dealing with learner transport and food security which were of a critical nature and needed greater efficiency.

Mr Sayed supported Ms Windvogel’s concern about avoiding creating the impression that rural communities’ issues were not being addressed and that it was important to set a date for the visit. He agreed with Mr Walters on the importance of quantifying impacts.

Ms Kaizer-Philander proposed that WCED provide written information on learner transport issues to give the Committee a clearer overview. She suggested that the Committee streamline its programme, considering the schedules of members involved in multiple committees and public hearings.

The Chairperson included a request for data on school infrastructure damages due to break-ins at school nutritional centres in the Western Cape during 2022/23 and 2023/24. He supported the request for WCED to provide a written reply on the Vredebes-Morrisdale matter for the Committee’s consideration.

The Procedural Officer noted the points raised, including the request for WCED written comments on Vleiplaas; the need for data on the cost of feeding learners in Quintile 4 and 5 schools. She mentioned the oversight visit initially planned for 17 September had been moved to November due to time constraints.

The Chairperson acknowledged the Members’ concern on the timing of the oversight visit, stating that the programme would be reviewed to find a suitable solution.

Ms Windvogel said the issues were urgent and needed to be addressed immediately. She called for the Committee to reprioritise its programme to fit in the oversight visit.

The Chairperson agreed to review the programme and consider how to prioritise the visit.

Mr Walters, while supporting the urgency of the matter, cautioned against bringing every constituency issue to the Committee, as it could detract from its overall mandate. He expressed confidence in the Chairperson’s handling of the request.

The Procedural Officer confirmed that all recommendations had been noted and would be included in the minutes for the next meeting.

The Chairperson thanked everyone for their contributions, acknowledging the complexity of the issues discussed, and noting the importance of addressing problems in a methodical way.

Meeting adjourned.