SGB Federation and DA demand retraction of food safety responsibility decision
LIMPOPO
The School Governing Body (SGB) Federation in Limpopo has strongly opposed the directive by the Limpopo Executive Committee (EXCO) that imposes new food safety monitoring responsibilities on SGB members.
This is after Limpopo EXCO resolved to implement a series of urgent measures assigning SGB members across the province to safety monitoring responsibilities at schools in the province.
The EXCO instructed vendors to sign a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with SGB, specifying adherence to food safety and nutrition standards required by the Department of Education.
Earlier this month, the Limpopo Provincial EXCO took a decision to lift the suspension on food sales in schools, following a suspension on food sales that was imposed last month.
Apostle Derick Mosoana SGB Federation Convenor in Limpopo, said they are concerned that their members are only committed as community volunteers, typically engaged part-time, who have taken on these roles to provide guidance and support to schools.
“The expectation that they monitor health certificates, verify sources of stock and demand documentation from vendors is unrealistic and places an undue burden on our SGB members. This role requires specialized skills, which are beyond the capacity and mandate of SGBs,” said Mosoana.
He said the federations has called on Limpopo Provincial Government to reconsider this directive and instead, explore alternative solutions for ensuring food safety.
“We believe that implementing a decentralized approach to school nutrition programmes, similar to what is done with day care feeding schemes, will enable more efficient oversight and relieve SGBs of responsibilities that distract from their primary duties in educational governance,” he said.
Mosoana indicated that their commitment as SGB, remains to fostering safe, supportive and healthy learning environments.
“We urge the government to work with SGBs to find practical solutions for food safety that do not impose impossible demands on our volunteers,” he said.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo has also called on the Limpopo EXCO to retract its directive that SGB are accountable for the safety of food being sold by vendors within and outside of schools in the province.
Jacques Smalle, DA Provincial Spokesperson for, Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDEDT), said it is legally the responsibility of the provincial Department of Health and local municipalities’ health and public safety departments for ensuring the safety, preparation and handling of food.
“While we welcome many of the interventions that the Premier’s Join Operating Committee has implemented, the DA rejects this passing of the buck from the government onto SGBs,” he said.
Smalle added that the responsibilities are very stringent conditions and food safety does require stringent standards.
“The administration of these new conditions and processes is likely impractical and beyond the means of most school vendors, who are often sole-proprietors with little business support. Constitutionally, every citizen has the right to choose their trade, occupation, or profession freely, and the government has a duty to respect, protect, and promote this right,” explained Smalle.
He indicated that rather than placing the vendor sector under a massive administrative burden, the provincial government should take responsibility, work collaboratively with vendors and empower them to meet basic food safety standards.
“It is the responsibility of the Limpopo Department of Health and local municipalities’ health and public safety units to inspect and test food products,” he said.
