The school feeding scheme in KwaZulu-Natal, which was meant to keep two million schoolchildren from going hungry, has collapsed, and the children have been left without food.

The R2 billion tender, which was awarded to Pacina Pty Ltd, has left thousands of learners from poor backgrounds without food since schools reopened after the Easter break.

Now the IFP has called for the province's education MEC to cancel the school nutrition tender and urgently address the feeding of the more than two million schoolchildren.

The ANC has also raised its concerns over the crisis and called for the Department of Monitoring and Evaluation to ensure that feeding is restored to all schools in the province.

As the crisis deepens, mayors of opposition parties are stepping up to feed the learners.

IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa told a media briefing in Durban that it would be appropriate for the MEC to terminate the contract after it appeared Pacina Pty Ltd had dismally failed to institute its mandate.

He has called for the department to reimburse teachers who have used their money to buy food for their learners.

KZN suppliers revealed that they were told to buy only food from Pacina Pty Ltd when the tender was given to them. When they complained, they were told to take it or leave it.

ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said that ensuring that the children are fed remains the party's priority.

The Special Investigation Unit has launched a probe and asked the department for tender documents and other details.