School breakfast programme to benefit five Northern Cape schools

KATHU Solar Park (KSP), in partnership with the Tiger Brands Foundation (TBF), has rolled out a school breakfast programme that will benefit five schools in the Northern Cape over the next five years.

The CEO of KSP, Zandi Nkone, said 4,468 learners would receive a daily nutritious in-school breakfast.

TBF director Eugene Absolom added that nutrition was important for the physical and cognitive development of children.

“Without proper nutrients, toddlers and pre-schoolers may struggle to develop the ability to maintain concentration,” said Absolom.

“In South Africa, malnutrition remains a significant underlying cause of child mortality and is associated with one-third of all child in-hospital deaths, according to Unicef figures.

“Unfortunately, millions of South African learners come from vulnerable communities and their sole source of nutrition is the in-school nutrition programme that has been rolled out by the Department of Basic Education.”

Absolom added that pupils would be served a nutritious fortified porridge made from sorghum, maize or oats that would be prepared by trained food handlers in clean, well-equipped kitchens - either newly constructed or renovated.

“Pupils will be provided with a plate and set of utensils, allowing them to enjoy their meal with dignity. The porridges and portion sizes by nutritionists meet optimal levels of micro-nutrients as recommended by the World Health Organisation and address key health challenges in vulnerable communities,” Absolom added.