One of the key highlights of this year was welcoming three new trustees to the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust: Hadijah Nankanja, Miles Kubheka and Nonhlanhla Taylor. Each brings not only expertise but also a deep personal commitment to community resilience, food justice, and the power of grassroots action. Their arrival has infused the organisation with fresh energy, diverse perspectives and a renewed sense of possibility.
They join our existing trustees, Kurt Ackermann, Sheryl Ozinsky and Miles Gad, whose steady leadership and long-standing dedication continue to anchor the Trust. Their institutional memory and unwavering belief in community-led change have guided us through each stage of growth.
This year also marked an important transition as we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the trustees who stepped down after serving the Trust since its inception, making room for the new trustees. Their vision, generosity and years of stewardship created the foundation we stand on today, built on partnership, integrity and a shared belief in a fairer food system.
MEET THE TRUSTEES:
Kurt Ackermann: CEO and co-founder of the Trust, Kurt brings decades of experience in sustainability, strategy and urban resilience. He co-founded the Oranjezicht City Farm & Market and works across research and policy spaces to strengthen Cape Town’s food system.
Hadijah Nankanja: A respected community development leader from Uganda, Hadijah heads the Community Women’s Enterprise Network and serves as East Africa Regional Ambassador for African Food Changemakers, championing women- and youth-led agribusiness across the continent. Reflecting on her role as a trustee, Hadijah shares that she is inspired by the Trust’s commitment to inclusive urban food systems and believes in its power to transform livelihoods, strengthen food security, and build resilient, community-led food economies.
Miles Kubheka: An entrepreneur and innovation strategist, Miles founded the Wakanda Food Accelerator and Gcwalisa retail solution, driving inclusive food entrepreneurship and technology-enabled access for underserved communities. Reflecting on his role as a trustee, Miles shares that he values the work of SAUFFT “because to change the world, you need to start with changing COREmmunities.”
Nonhlanhla Taylor: With more than 14 years’ experience across logistics, risk management and operations, Nonhlanhla brings strong strategic thinking and a practical leadership lens. As CEO of OTMS, she champions sustainable operations and resilient business systems. She reflects that she values how the Trust works with vulnerable urban communities through food security in ways that restore agency and dignity, rather than perpetuating historic charity-dependency models. Communities with dignity and agency, she notes, are more stable and resilient.
Sheryl Ozinsky: A social entrepreneur, community organiser and co-founder of the Oranjezicht City Farm and a co-owner and founder of the Oranjezicht City Farm Market, Sheryl has played a key role in strengthening Cape Town’s local food ecosystem through urban farming, market development and community-led enterprise.
Miles Gad: A seasoned chartered accountant and CFO at Old Mutual Wealth Trust Company, Miles brings over 25 years of financial management experience, ensuring strong governance, accountability and long-term sustainability.
We’re excited for the year ahead under the guidance of this diverse and dedicated group.
Read more about them here: https://fairfood.org.za/our-trustees/
SA Urban Food & Farming Trust 