As part of an initiative held in honor of Mandela Month, thousands of children attending schools and Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers across South Africa have benefited from a program that included the delivery of food parcels and the creation of food production gardens aimed at improving food security.
Volunteers from FirstRand Volunteers (FRV) mobilized 2,500 employees from nine provinces to work alongside the organization Meals on Wheels. During this activity, 2,500 nutritious food parcels were packed for needy families, and food growing containers were established for schools, ECD centers, nursing homes, and community organizations.
The national campaign under Mandela Month supported vulnerable communities through food security initiatives. The Mandela Month program, with a total cost exceeding 10 million rand, provided food, agricultural resources, garden infrastructure, seedlings, compost, irrigation support, and ongoing training.
The initiative has already reached about 50–60 beneficiary organizations across South Africa, many of which provide daily meals, education, care, and auxiliary services to children, the elderly, and vulnerable families. The volunteer activities were designed to extend the impact of Mandela Month beyond a single day of service, promoting long-term food security and encouraging employee volunteering.
Thousands of vulnerable children are expected to benefit from the food parcels and gardens created during Mandela Month. Kone Gugushe, Head of Social Investment at FirstRand Group, noted that 'Mandela Month reminds us that meaningful change starts with action. Through this program, our employees united across the country to provide both immediate aid and long-term solutions for food security in the communities we serve.'
Meals on Wheels has served vulnerable communities in South Africa for decades through food distribution programs while promoting long-term food security through community gardens and sustainable planting initiatives. The Mandela Month initiative successfully linked immediate food aid provision with long-term food security through the creation of sustainable vegetable gardens.
As part of this project, volunteers packed food parcels for needy families and planted vegetable seedlings, while collecting garden containers for beneficiary organizations with the support of program coordinators, Meals on Wheels facilitators, and community partners.
Food Indaba 2026 is a major event dedicated to sustainable food and culture in Cape Town, where traditions meet an emphasis on water resources, well-being, and community spirit. This annual event takes place from July 20 to August 2 and is organized by the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust.
The event is aligned with the spirit of Mandela Day and the principle of Ubuntu. Instead of academic lectures, Food Indaba 2026 offers over 17 immersive events across the City Bowl, focusing on locally sustainable food. This year's central theme is ROAR (Water and Food Systems: Rivers, Oceans, Aquifers, and Precipitation).
As climate change intensifies, collective well-being is being tested. Food Indaba 2026 demonstrates how local communities, urban farmers, and leading chefs collaborate with nature to protect mental, physical, and social health.
Various experiences are offered to understand and support the invisible networks that feed the city, immersing participants in Cape Town's sustainable food cultures.
Walking Gastronomic Tours (July 21–23) are held in the Bellville, Langa, and Central Business District (CBD) areas. These tours differ from standard excursions: participants explore the vibrant informal economy of taxi ranks in Bellville, learn about community-led composting initiatives in Langa, and trace the ancient freshwater sources that sustained the first residents of the CBD.
At the MRKTPLC market (July 25–26) in Makers Landing, visitors can see Cape Town's live food culture before it becomes mainstream. This vibrant market features 15 young food entrepreneurs from lesser-known corners of the city, offering unique snacks, small-batch spices, and traditional pantry items.
Food is viewed not just as energy, but as a carrier of memory, culture, and medicine. Exclusive events explore how the wild South African landscape can contribute to improving our relationship with food consumption.
As part of a workshop at Wolfgat (July 23 at Makers Landing), Chef Kobus van der Merwe and his team leave Paternoester to conduct an intimate and rare lesson in the city. Participants will gain insight into how the menu at their world-renowned restaurant is determined by wild coastal ingredients, Strandveld succulents, and small-scale sustainable fishing.
The World of Mouth: Wetlands Within event (July 25 at Tauyaa Wine Room) is a multi-sensory, story-based dinner prepared by Li and Lerato Waters-Myn (Mpintshi Yum). The menu, created using carefully sourced ingredients and a traditional herbal tea ceremony, beautifully illustrates the journey of water through the earth, the human body, and collective memory.
High-energy workshops have been developed to inspire the next generation of environmentally conscious citizens, turning sustainability into a game.
At the WATERLESS Cooking Jam youth food fair (August 1 at Soute by Food Jams), forty teenagers will be challenged to create an incredible dish without using any water. Instead, they will study methods of perspiration, pressing, and steam capture to extract moisture directly from raw ingredients.
For children aged 6–12, there is an interactive WATER Lab (August 1 at Cape Town Science Centre) that makes water conservation tangible and edible. Children will learn how desert plants, coastal fog, and local knowledge help conserve water in challenging conditions.
For those who wish to feel more grounded and inspired, opportunities are provided to step away from screens and connect with those who grow our food. 'Tea with a Farmer' sessions (August 1 at Oranjezicht City Farm and Langa) invite conversation with passionate urban growers over freshly brewed herbal tea. This space is for discussing water-wise agriculture, local cultural knowledge, and the benefits of being on the land for mental health.
A panel discussion on regenerative agriculture (July 23–26) is designed for an in-depth exploration of well-being theory. These panels bring together soil specialists, ethical consumers, and food writers to discuss the real challenges of responsible sourcing and changing the world through narrative.
Food Indaba is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the spirit of Mandela Day by interacting with the people who are making our food systems stronger, smarter, and more unified.
