Our Team

Kurt Ackermann

Chief Executive Officer

Kurt Ackermann is chief executive and a trustee of the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust. He is also a research fellow at the Global Risk Governance Programme at the University of Cape Town, sits on Cape Town’s Food Systems Working Group and Food Systems Research Community of Practice, and serves on the boards of non-profits in education, health, and human rights.

Prior to his involvement with food systems in 2012 as co-founder of the Oranjezicht City Farm and Market, Kurt spent a decade consulting civil society organisations, government and the private sector on strategy and management challenges pertaining to urban resilience through projects in energy and climate change, resource use and waste, conservation and sustainability, and education.

Before emigrating to South Africa in 2000, Kurt played key roles in starting up and leading multi-city agencies driving digital business transformation in the Americas. Kurt holds an AB from The University of Chicago, and was a Business Fellow at Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

kurt@fairfood.org.za

Rirhandzu Marivate

Programme Manager

Rirhandzu Marivate is Programme Manager of the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust and part of the strategic leadership team. She oversees the Agrihub Initiative, the AfriFOODlinks project, the Environmental Entrepreneurship Support Initiative, GrowSA, and the Kenilworth Rooftop Farm, and further conceptualised and directs the SAUFFT organisational development programme. She also currently serves on the board of the Local WILD Food Hub, reintegrating indigenous edibles into local foodways, towards wellness for local ecologies, economies and people.

Prior to joining SAUFFT, Rirhandzu was project manager of the Living Soils Community Learning Farm, which she established and ran for 5 years, guiding the project to become part of the new Community Inclusive Justice Institute (CIJI). Previously she worked as a sustainability and environmental scientist for the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).

Rirhandzu holds a BSc Honours, Ecology, Environment & Conservation from University of the Witwatersrand and a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development & Planning (Food Systems) from Stellenbosch University, with further qualifications in Asset Based and Community Driven Development, Design Thinking for Climate Change Adaptation, and Programme Management. She received a Mandela Washington Fellowship, was named a Mail & Guardian Green Futurist, and has authored and co-authored numerous research papers.

rirhandzu@fairfood.org.za

Iain Harris

Event Project Manager

Iain Harris is the Event Project Manager of the annual Food Indaba, a project of SA Urban Food & Farming Trust. He is a theatre and film graduate and the creator of the award-winning Pan-African travel brands Coffeebeans Routes and Creative Travel Africa. Iain has a passion for travel, film, music, art, and quantum economics.

Melanie Stewart

Farm Manager

Melanie is the Farm Manager at Oranjezicht City Farm. With a strong background in business administration and farming, she ensures optimal productivity while upholding organic principles. Melanie is passionate about education and community outreach, fostering a welcoming environment for visitors and volunteers. Her commitment to sustainability and her nurturing approach to farming make her an invaluable asset to the OZCF team.

Thando Qabaka

Agrihub Project Manager

Thando is the Agrihub Project Manager at SA Urban Food & Farming Trust. He holds a National Diploma in Agricultural Crop Production Sciences from Cape Peninsula University of Technology. After graduation, he worked for two years as a milking operation intern and supervisor at a dairy farm in East London, Berlin. Thando pursued a postgraduate Advanced Diploma in Agricultural Management from Nelson Mandela University while working for the Western Cape Department of Agriculture in their internship programme, where he was introduced to the nonprofit sector. Since joining SAUFFT, he has completed a short course in Advanced Project Management from UCT. Thando enjoys contact sports such as rugby, soccer, and boxing.

Lwando Sawule

Field Worker: Langa Agrihub

Lwando is Field Worker for the Langa Agrihub. He has a background in Criminal Justice and a B-Tech degree in Agricultural Management. Lwando began his career as an Assistant Farm Manager at Rainbow Chicken Limited (RCL) and later transitioned to the nonprofit sector as a Farm Manager at Phillipi Economic Development. Currently, at SAUFFT, he serves as an Outreach Field Worker, utilising his expertise to gather crucial data and make a tangible impact. He has a keen interest in soccer, business, farming, and politics.

Josh Harding

Farm Maintenance & Driver: OZCF

Josh Harding is the driver in charge of maintenance at Oranjezicht City Farm (OZCF). Joshua has been a cornerstone of OZCF since its inception, accompanying his father, Mark, during school holidays to lend a hand with various tasks. This early exposure instilled a deep connection to the farm, which he formally nurtured by working part-time in 2020 and transitioning to a full-time role in 2022. With a knack for maintaining and creating essential farm infrastructure, Joshua approaches his responsibilities with innovation and resourcefulness. He is dedicated to supporting the community, readily assisting the public, allotment holders, and volunteers. Over the years, Joshua has amassed a wealth of stories from OZCF’s early days, witnessing many people come and go, and continues to play a vital role in the farm’s ongoing success.

Nolutsha Pahlane

Intern

Nolutsha is an intern at SA Urban Food & Farming Trust, where she assists with various projects, including the Environmental Entrepreneurship Support Initiative. She also volunteers as a field worker at Oranjezicht City Farm, gaining practical experience in urban agriculture.

She holds a Master of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science, and has a strong passion for both livestock and crops. Through her work at SAUFFT, she aims to apply her knowledge of sustainable farming practices and agricultural research while gaining hands-on experience in the field.

Outside of work, Nolutsha is a foodie who loves to restaurant hop, exploring new culinary experiences and flavours.

Nailah Furnival

AfriFOODlinks Project Assistant

Nailah is Project Assistant for the AfriFOODlinks project. She holds a Masters Degree in Development Studies, which focused on territorial food systems and food system governance.

Before joining SAUFFT, Nailah was a student researcher dabbling in various food systems research projects. Before this, Nailah misspent her youth working in the advertising industry at multiple agencies. Here, she developed skills in brand building and communications strategy development, sharpening her understanding of human nature.

For her sins, Nailah gets involved in volunteer projects such as development surf coaching, trauma counselling, literacy programmes and food gardening.

Thandi Mancoba

Research, Communications & Events Officer

Thandi is the Research, Communications & Events Officer at SA Urban Food & Farming Trust. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and has a passion for telling positive and impactful stories. In her role, she is responsible for inputting on research projects, coordinating events, and overseeing all communication efforts to promote the trust’s mission and initiatives.

Before joining SAUFFT, Thandi gained extensive experience working in the nonprofit sector, government, and education. She has also contributed her skills to various online and print publications, where she honed her ability to craft compelling narratives and engage diverse audiences.

Outside of her professional life, Thandi is an avid long-distance runner and enjoys getting lost in nature.