A Department of Basic Education tender to run a pilot nutrition programme for early learning centres in the Eastern Cape has had its deadline pushed back eight times in seven months, prompting civil society groups to demand faster action, Daily Maverick reports.
The tender first closed on 9 April 2026 and now closes on 23 October. The pilot is meant to feed 26,620 children at 1,035 centres that do not yet receive the department's daily subsidy per child. Its budget has grown from R197 million in 2024-25 to R772 million over the current medium-term period.
The pilot made up almost 40% of R743 million the department failed to spend in 2025-26. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube told MPs this month that the underspending was unacceptable.
Source: Daily Maverick
