From headlines to help — getting meals to hungry children in Bushbuckridge, and beyond

Daily Maverick

13-05-2025

A Daily Maverick article on child hunger in Bushbuckridge sparked numerous queries from concerned readers about how they could help, and prompted an unprecedented coalition of food producers and NGOs to deliver life-saving meals.
In March, Daily Maverick reported on a heartbreaking situation unfolding in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, where children were being forced to 'take turns' eating at home — a grim reflection of the extreme food insecurity gripping the community. The story struck a nerve, sparking an outpouring of concern from readers, prompting questions such as 'How can we help?' and 'What can be done?'
In response to the article, civil society organisations FoodForward SA, OneFarm Share, and the Do More Foundation teamed up with food manufacturers Tiger Brands, RCL Foods and Danone to deliver a rapid feeding initiative in the area.
Through FoodForward SA, the coalition is distributing nutritious food, including maize, rice, lentils, beans, samp, pilchards, soya mince and yoghurt to more than 2,500 people, five days a week.
'This collaborative effort between South Africa's leading competing food manufacturers is truly inspiring and groundbreaking,' said Khamil Hiraman, national operations manager at FoodForward SA.
'While this response offers vital emergency relief, it should also help advance sustainable, long-term solutions that include government and local stakeholders,' said Dr Jessica Ronaasen of the Do More Foundation.
The national picture
The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) has proven to be much more than just a feeding initiative. It has become a vital intervention for improving the health, education, and overall wellbeing of millions of South African children, breaking down barriers to education and contributing to gender equality and better health outcomes.
Kerry Mauchline, spokesperson for Western Cape education MEC David Maynier, said the department provided two meals every school day to more than 537,000 learners at 1,055 schools every day through the NSFP.
Learners in 712 Quintile 1-3 (no-fee schools) received meals, and the department also supports learners at 343 Quintile 4 and 5 schools.
'In our province, the programme is managed centrally to avoid any disruptions in supply or funding. We are also fortunate to have excellent support from a variety of non-government organisations and have started food gardens at a number of schools to supplement the programme,' she said.
While the programme is funded by a national conditional grant, Mauchline said they had found that this did not keep up with food inflation.
'The Western Cape Government adds additional funding from our budget to ensure that the full cost is covered,' she said.
Geoffrey van der Merwe, spokesperson for the Northern Cape Department of Education, said the right to education was among the basic rights enshrined in the Constitution's Bill of Rights. However, given the prevalence of poverty in communities across the country, the learning process in schools tended to be negatively influenced by factors such as malnutrition and hunger.
Van der Merwe said 269,021 learners in primary and secondary schools from Quintiles 1-3 and targeted Quintiles 4-5 schools received a nutritious meal daily. These learners were at 502 schools across the province.
'This programme is benefiting more than 87% of learners in the public ordinary schools. In addition to this, from the 269,021 learners, a total of 176,152 learners are receiving the NSNP-funded breakfast daily at all Quintiles 1-5 primary schools,' he said.
Muzi Mahlambi, head of communications for KwaZulu-Natal education, said the NSNP served more than 4,000 schools. He emphasised the importance of research in shaping the programme's direction and improvements.
'Research has shown that providing breakfast to learners, many of whom come from food-insecure households, significantly improves school attendance and academic performance. Based on evidence showing that many learners arrive at school without having eaten, the programme was enhanced to include breakfast,' he said.
Mahlambi said the programme was reviewed and enhanced annually, based on ongoing research.
Gauteng education department spokesperson Steve Mabona said that hunger remained a serious concern in Gauteng, largely due to high unemployment rates and the growing number of child-headed households.
'Many learners depend on food provided at schools. Without access to nutritious meals, they are at risk of malnutrition-related illnesses, which often result in absenteeism. Hunger also affects their ability to concentrate and perform well in class,' he said.
Mabona emphasised that the NSNP played a vital role in poverty alleviation by ensuring learners received nutritious meals that supported their learning and improved attendance. In Gauteng, the NSNP currently fed 1,141,515 learners in Quintile 1-3 schools, as well as selected learners in Quintile 4-5 schools.
At the time of publication, the departments of education in Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo and North West had not responded.
Turning compassion into action
The crisis in Bushbuckridge revealed a painful reality in communities across South Africa: too many children still go to school or to bed hungry. After the article was published, Daily Maverick received an outpouring of messages from readers asking how they could help. Whether you're an individual, a corporate team, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, there are tangible ways to step in and support the fight against child hunger.
🛒 For practical donors
If you're looking for high-impact giving that goes directly to meals:
Feed a Child provides immune-boosting, vitamin-rich porridge that requires no cooking — ideal for homes without access to stoves or electricity. Just R100 per month covers 30 meals for a child.
➤ Donate here
Soul Food distributes POWA Packs — 1kg of nutrient-dense, low-sugar porridge enriched with essential vitamins. One R75 pack feeds a family of four for a week.
➤ Support here
Ladles of Love provides nutritious food to 6,500 young children and their teachers across the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Gauteng. They supply nutrient-rich food and fresh produce weekly to provide two meals a day to children under seven, as well as their teachers and carers. A donation of R250 a month will give a small child two healthy meals a day
➤ Donate here
❤️ For sustained impact advocates
If your focus is long-term change and prevention:
Save the Children goes beyond meal distribution by training community health workers to identify and treat malnutrition. They also offer support to families to help them grow or access nutritious food sustainably.
➤ Support here
The Lunchbox Fund ensures that orphaned and at-risk children in remote or township schools receive balanced, protein-rich meals daily, supporting both nutrition and learning.
➤ Donate here
Siyabonga Africa provides food, blankets, clothing and basic necessities to those who are destitute. The ultimate aim is to create environments and opportunities that enable people to find their way out of poverty.
➤ Support here
🧤 For hands-on helpers
If you prefer to give your time and energy:
Ladles of Love offers several volunteer options, from making sandwiches at home to helping stock pantries or prepare meals at community kitchens. Their work reaches thousands of preschoolers and caregivers weekly.
Soul Food has a well-organised logistics network and regularly calls on volunteers to help pack, sort or deliver food parcels to schools and shelters.