Our 2025/2026 Impact Report reflects a year of practical change, community leadership, and collaboration to build stronger, fairer urban food systems. Across Cape Town, farmers are growing food and generating income, informal traders are improving their businesses, and communities are finding new ways to turn local challenges into opportunities. Through the Agrihub Initiative, we supportedContinue reading “Our 2025/2026 Impact Report: Building Stronger Urban Food Systems”
Author Archives: thandimancoba
Growing Confidence: How Grow SA Helped Busi Majola Cultivate Her Permaculture Vision
For Busisiwe “Busi” Majola, agriculture has always been more than a practice. It has been a lifelong fascination, shaped by childhood visits to rural areas, school projects, and a deep imagination of ecosystems where everything has a place. In 2019, that early love was reawakened with a new language: permaculture, sustainability, and regenerative farming. AsContinue reading “Growing Confidence: How Grow SA Helped Busi Majola Cultivate Her Permaculture Vision”
From Waste to Opportunity: Pamela Nontshinga’s Journey of Leadership and Community Impact
For Pamela Nontshinga, Operations Leader for the Langa Waste Diversion Project, the role has been a journey of learning, leadership, and community impact. Born and raised in Langa and a mother of three, Pamela has worked in nursing and health and safety, but has always been driven by a desire to make a difference inContinue reading “From Waste to Opportunity: Pamela Nontshinga’s Journey of Leadership and Community Impact”
SAUFFT in Tunis: Reflecting on the people and partnerships shaping urban food systems
Day 1 | 21 September 2026 | Tunis, Tunisia Today marked the beginning of the AfriFOODlinks Consortium Meeting in Tunis, bringing partners together from across Africa and Europe to reflect on four years of collaboration, share experiences and consider the future of urban food systems. Launched in December 2022, AfriFOODlinks connects more than 65 citiesContinue reading “SAUFFT in Tunis: Reflecting on the people and partnerships shaping urban food systems”
People as Infrastructure: Why Urban Land Use Must Be Reimagined Through the Lens of Food
By Rirhandzu Marivate, Programmes Manager at SA Urban Food and Farming Trust (SAUFFT), BSc (Hons) Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development and Planning (Food Systems), MPhil Candidate in Sustainable Development (Food Systems) As South African cities continue to grow, I find myself returning to an increasingly urgent question: What does a just,Continue reading “People as Infrastructure: Why Urban Land Use Must Be Reimagined Through the Lens of Food”
SAUFFT’s Rirhandzu Marivate joins global sustainability exchange in Germany
As cities around the world grapple with climate change, waste management, mobility, and food insecurity, international collaborations are becoming increasingly important in shaping more sustainable urban futures.Earlier this month, SAUFFT’s Programmes Manager, Rirhandzu Marivate, travelled to Bavaria, Germany, as part of a knowledge-exchange and capacity-building mission focused on sustainable urban mobility, circular systems, and foodContinue reading “SAUFFT’s Rirhandzu Marivate joins global sustainability exchange in Germany”
Cultivating Change: Sibulele Plaatjie’s Story of Persistence and Possibility
In the heart of Langa, Sibulele Plaatjie is redefining what farming looks like for young women in her community. Raised in a single-parent household in Langa, Sibu knew she needed a way to generate income, and she wanted to do it in a way that aligned with her desire to live healthier. Growing her ownContinue reading “Cultivating Change: Sibulele Plaatjie’s Story of Persistence and Possibility”
New Voices, Shared Vision: Meet the Trustees Guiding SAUFFT Forward
One of the key highlights of this year was welcoming three new trustees to the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust: Miles Kubheka, Hadijah Nankanja 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 theContinue reading “New Voices, Shared Vision: Meet the Trustees Guiding SAUFFT Forward”
Paving and Levelling of the Smiley Market: Strengthening Safety and Dignity
For decades, the Rhodes Street Smiley Market in Langa has been a cornerstone of local food culture. Known for the preparation and sale of “smileys”, sheep heads cooked over open flames, the market is both an economic lifeline for women traders and a gathering place for residents and visitors. Despite its vibrancy, the site hadContinue reading “Paving and Levelling of the Smiley Market: Strengthening Safety and Dignity”
Cape Town Mayor Joins SAUFFT at the Lerotholi Ave Open Streets
Following the success of the inaugural Open Streets event, the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust (SAUFFT) was invited to participate in the Open Streets Experiments: Lerotholi Ave Sundays on 30 November. The platform allowed us to showcase work across our community programmes in Langa, Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, and Gugulethu. At the event, we wereContinue reading “Cape Town Mayor Joins SAUFFT at the Lerotholi Ave Open Streets”
