ForAfrika #ZeroHunger Partnership

In 2024, the partnership between Woolworths and ForAfrika South Africa continued to transform lives across Thaba Nchu, Botshabelo and Bloemfontein communities, where poverty and unemployment leave many families unable to afford nutritious food. Through the Mangaung Food Security and Livelihoods Project, 27 community and household food gardens were established and supported, turning once-dry plots into thriving, productive spaces feeding households, ECD centres and local schools.

More than 320 direct beneficiaries, including women-headed households, unemployed youths and ECD practitioners, participated in garden activities. Over the year, these gardens produced more than 15 tonnes of fresh vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, beetroot, carrots and onions, significantly improving diets and reducing household food costs.

In Thaba Nchu, 15 community gardens became fully operational, supplying three ECD centres with weekly fresh produce for over 250 children. In Botshabelo, backyard gardeners generated small incomes by selling surplus vegetables to neighbours and local tuckshops, earning up to R500–R700 per month. In Bloemfontein’s Phase 10, a group of five women expanded their plot into a cooperative, now known as the Lerato Garden Group, which supplies a nearby feeding scheme.

Throughout 2024, ForAfrika trained over 80 beneficiaries in climate-smart and organic farming techniques, including composting, mulching and water-saving drip irrigation systems. Participants also received practical training in marketing and cooperative management, helping them to sustain production and linking them to local markets. The introduction of simple shade-net tunnels improved yields during dry months, ensuring year-round production despite erratic rainfall.

One of the most inspiring success stories emerged from Matlatseng Village, where Ms. Masego Motaung, a 46-year-old mother of three, joined the programme after losing her job during COVID-19. With support from Woolworths and ForAfrika, she started a small garden on her homestead. “At first, I only wanted to feed my children,” she recalls. “Now I sell enough spinach to pay for school transport.” Her garden now feeds seven households, proving how local empowerment can restore dignity and resilience.

The Woolworths–ForAfrika collaboration has become a lifeline for hundreds of families in Mangaung. By combining skills development, local production and community ownership, the project has sparked a ripple effect of self-reliance and pride. As of December 2024, lush gardens stand where there was once bare soil, living proof that with the right partnership, communities can grow their own future.