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How the Western Cape is uniting to combat hunger

Wendy Kaizer-Philander s the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Social Development in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. Image: Supplied Wendy Kaizer-Philander When looking at the wealth in our cities and the beauty of our landscapes, it can be easy to forget that in many corners of the Western Cape, hunger remains a daily reality of life. Something so basic, so fundamental, still plagues the lives of thousands of our citizens. The General Households Survey published by Statistics South Africa in 2021 revealed a disturbing reality: that almost 250 000 households in Cape Town experienced hunger. These are not just numbers. They are children going to bed with empty stomachs. They are elderly citizens choosing between food and medicine. They are families losing hope. Food insecurity And the problem is even more pressing in rural municipalities. In places like Saldanha, Oudtshoorn, Prince Albert, and Beaufort West, more than 40% of residents are food insecure. That means they cannot afford the minimum food needed for basic energy intake. In Matzikama, Theewaterskloof, and other rural regions, the rates are alarmingly high as well. Behind every percentage point is a human story of struggle - mothers stretching a single meal for an entire day, children falling behind in school because hunger robs them of focus and strength. This is the harsh reality of food insecurity in the Western Cape. But amid this bleak picture, there is also movement, action, and compassion. The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) has stepped up with urgency and resolve, working with civil society to build a safety net that stretches into the most vulnerable communities. Recognising the deepening risk of household hunger, DSD has developed and implemented a comprehensive support system to mitigate to ensure no one is left behind. At the heart of this response are Community Nutrition and Development Centres (CNDCs) and Community Kitchens, operated by a network of dedicated non-profit organisations (NPO). In the 2024/25 financial year, 54 NPOs managed 102 CNDCs and 16 community kitchens across the province. These centres do more than serve meals, they restore dignity, provide social support, and create employment. In fact, 163 jobs were created through CNDCs in 2024/25, with an estimated 249 job opportunities set for the 2025/26 financial year. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Rural areas The focus is heavily on rural areas, where 58% of funding was directed. In regions like Eden Karoo, for instance, over R11.7 million was allocated to fund 14 community kitchens and 19 additional feeding sites. Through these efforts, more than 10,000 beneficiaries are fed each month from CNDCs, and another 8,000 receive meals through community kitchens – 80% of whom are women with children under five. The Western Cape DSD's response does not stop there. During emergencies, food parcels are swiftly delivered - 2,458 households were supported with emergency food parcels in 2024/25 alone. In addition, the Department funds a vast network of centres providing daily meals as part of their care model, including: 141 old age homes serving 5,317 older persons three meals a day 163 senior clubs supporting over 8,000 elders with weekday meals 40 disabled homes and 47 protective workshops, serving over 3,800 people with disabilities Over 20,000 vulnerable children served through after-school centres, drop-in sites, and child care facilities Support to shelters for the homeless, victims of gender-based violence, and individuals undergoing substance treatment Altogether, the department is investing R47.4 million through 55 organisations to ensure food reaches those who need it most. No silver bullet This is not a silver bullet. Hunger remains a devastating and complex issue, rooted in poverty, unemployment, and enduring inequality. Lasting solutions must be found through the creation of more opportunities. But what the DSD's efforts does show is that government, in partnership with civil society, can make sure that our most vulnerable residents are cared for, even when they cannot afford to care for themselves. As citizens, we must continue to hold our leaders accountable. But we must also acknowledge the quiet work being done - the soup being stirred in a community kitchen, the food parcels delivered to the elderly, the warm meal handed to a child after school. These are acts of humanity in the face of hardship. Food insecurity is a stain on our collective conscience. But with sustained commitment, proper funding, and deep community partnerships, it is a challenge we can and must overcome. *Wendy Kaizer-Philander who is the Chairperson of the Standing Committee Social Development in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. Weekend Argus