By Johnathan Paoli
KwaZulu-Natal education MEC Sipho Hlomuka has firmly denied allegations of political interference and personal enrichment linked to a R2.9 billion National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) tender.
He is facing mounting pressure from opposition parties, service providers and civil society for his immediate resignation and a full-scale investigation.
Responding to claims made by the NSNP Service Providers Association and opposition politicians, Hlomuka acknowledged past ties to a company allegedly implicated in the current tender awards but said he had divested years before taking office.
“In 2015, when I was not in government, I registered a company. However, I’m no longer part of that company and I’m not aware of its activities. If it has received any tenders, that information will come out in the investigation,” Hlomuka admitted.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Hlomuka addressed a growing storm surrounding his alleged ties to the company, his role in the procurement process, and broader accusations of corruption plaguing the provincial education department.
The MEC emphasised that as the political head of the department, he had no involvement in the supply chain management process and had never sat on a tender adjudication panel.
He called for aggrieved parties to lodge formal appeals with the provincial Treasury, which was overseeing the current appeal stage of the procurement process.
“I’ve engaged the MEC for finance and the premier. If there are irregularities, the law must take its course. No one is above accountability,” Hlomuka said.
Despite his denials, political pressure is intensifying.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) is demanding that Hlomuka resigns or face formal removal proceedings.
The party has also called for a presidential proclamation to mandate the Special Investigating Unit to probe the matter, and has appealed to the Auditor-General, Public Protector and Hawks to launch parallel investigations.
“This is a feeding scheme hijacked for political gain. This is not governance, it is exploitation of hungry children.” spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said.
The Democratic Alliance has welcomed the Treasury’s preliminary intervention and called on Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube to transfer all future NSNP funding responsibilities from the education department to the provincial Treasury.
“If the allegations prove true, MEC Hlomuka must be removed immediately. Corruption cannot be tolerated, especially when it affects hungry children,” DA KZN education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi said.
The DA has also submitted a formal request to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) for an urgent investigation and subpoena of all procurement documents related to the NSNP tenders.
At the heart of the scandal is a detailed complaint from the NSNP Service Providers Association, which claims to have obtained “concrete evidence” of tender rigging.
According to association spokesperson Thabang Mncwabe, supply chain procedures were allegedly deliberately undermined, with whistleblowers and legitimate bidders sidelined.
KwaZulu-Natal finance MEC Francois Rodgers has confirmed that while no formal complaint had yet been submitted, his office is open to investigating any evidence brought forward.
“It is my responsibility to ensure fiscal discipline. Allegations of tender fraud deeply concern me. Anyone with evidence must approach my office so we can probe further,” Rodgers said.
When asked about the MKP’s demand for his resignation, Hlomuka was defiant but restrained.
“I was appointed by the premier. If there’s a need for me to resign, I’ll wait for guidance from the one who appointed me. I have not appointed myself,” he said.
With Treasury open to probing the matter, Scopa expected to intervene and growing calls for a national-level investigation, the future of KwaZulu-Natal’s school nutrition programme and Hlomuka’s political career hangs in the balance.
INSIDE EDUCATION
