Fair Food SA - SA Urban Food + Farming Trust, Cape Town (2026)

10/06/2026

PEOPLE AS INFRASTRUCTURE: REFRAMING URBAN LAND USE THROUGH THE LENS OF FOOD

At the recent UCT Conversations on Science for Society event, Urban Land Use: Navigating Justice, Ecology and Climate, SAUFFT Programmes Manager Rirhandzu Marivate joined a panel with Associate Professor Pippin Anderson (UCT) and Robert McGaffin (City of Cape Town), facilitated by Africa Melane (host of CapeTalk and 702’s Early Breakfast Show), where she shared insights on rethinking urban land use through the lens of food systems and community-driven resilience.

In her contribution, Rirhandzu challenged conventional approaches to urban planning, arguing that cities cannot be understood through zoning maps and technical frameworks alone. Instead, she called for greater recognition of the people and food systems actors who are already building resilience in communities every day.

Drawing on examples from urban farmers, informal food traders, community kitchens and food gardens such as the Langa Agrihub, she explored how these actors provide critical social, economic and ecological infrastructure in cities where formal systems often fall short.

Her central argument is simple but powerful: if we are serious about building just, inclusive and climate-compatible cities, we must recognise that people are infrastructure.

Read the full article here: https://fairfood.org.za/2026/06/05/people-as-infrastructure-why-urban-land-use-must-be-reimagined-through-the-lens-of-food/
Watch more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbpv8qE6Su0

01/06/2026

& Farming Trust CEO Kurt Ackermann joined Professor Clifford Shearing from UCT’s Environmental Entrepreneurs Support Initiative (EESI) and Lindela Mjenxane of Beyond Expectations (BEEP) in a conversation exploring bottom-up climate adaptation initiatives in the Cape Flats.

As part of the discussion, Kurt introduced a programme of work by the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust to support urban farmers, focused on both the impact of urban farming on the nutrition of local communities and the income derived from farming activities. He also shared a soon-to-be initiated project, as part of the Environmental Entrepreneurs Support Initiative (EESI), to introduce trees as sources of both nutrition and shade.

According to Kurt, there is value in expanding our understanding of what entrepreneurship means in informal and community spaces and in shifting conventional thinking around how we understand the daily hustle. Through the Environmental Entrepreneurs Support Initiative (EESI) and our work alongside urban farmers, often-overlooked forms of entrepreneurship are being unlocked, revealing the innovation, agency and income-generating activity already embedded in everyday community life.

Thank you to the UCT Graduate School of Business for creating space for important conversations like this one.

28/05/2026

What can Germany’s innovations in e-mobility, waste systems, and sustainable food models teach us about building more resilient urban food systems in South Africa?

Earlier this month, SAUFFT’s Programmes Manager, Rirhandzu Marivate, participated in a knowledge-exchange visit to Bavaria, Germany, exploring sustainable mobility, circular systems, and food futures through engagements with municipalities, cooperatives, innovators, and global sustainability leaders.

From e-cargo bikes and organic waste diversion to cooperative food models and circular economies, this experience offers valuable lessons for strengthening route-to-market access, food sovereignty, and sustainability within South African communities, beginning with SAUFFT’s Agrihubs.

Read the full blog here: https://fairfood.org.za/2026/05/28/sauffts-rirhandzu-marivate-joins-global-sustainability-exchange-in-germany/

22/05/2026

From 1,326 farmers in 2025 to 1,695 farmers today, more than 63% (63.4%) of the farmers in the Agrihub network are women.

This growth reflects the commitment of farmers who continue to learn, adapt and expand their farming activities despite difficult conditions. Across the network, farmers are strengthening their skills, improving production, building local markets and supporting their communities through urban agriculture.

The 2025/2026 Impact Report is currently in production and will share updated figures, farmer stories, programme developments and more on the growing impact of the Agrihub network.

Follow our social media channels for updates on its release.

FoodSecurity

07/05/2026

As conversations about the future of food systems continue to shape global agendas, African voices are increasingly taking up space in international platforms where these discussions matter most.

This past week, SAUFFT’s Programmes Manager, Rirhandzu Marivate, joined leading researchers, thinkers, and practitioners in Canada after being invited by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) to participate in the inaugural Arrell Future of Food Discovery Workshop.

Rhandzu is part of The Urban Future of Food interdisciplinary team, one of seven teams selected to explore some of the biggest questions facing global food systems, from climate resilience and biodiversity loss to equitable food economies and urban agriculture. Her team’s workshop focused specifically on exploring how food production can be integrated into urban built environments to create more resilient cities. The workshop also forms part of a broader selection process, where only three teams will be chosen to continue into the next stage of the programme.

Importantly, this space allows perspectives from the Global South to contribute to international thinking around food systems transformation. Through her participation, Rirhandzu is bringing forward the lived realities of community food systems actors in African cities, highlighting the importance of collective agency, local knowledge, and grassroots resilience in shaping sustainable food futures.

As Africa continues to navigate complex food challenges, it is critical that African practitioners, researchers, and communities are not only included in global conversations, but are actively influencing them.

We are proud to see SAUFFT represented in these important international dialogues and look forward to the learnings, collaborations, and possibilities that emerge from this engagement.

28/04/2026

The Langa Food Council process continues to gain momentum

Building on the strong foundation of two workshops held in late 2025, the Langa Food Council interim committee has been actively working to grow and strengthen the initiative. Their focus has been on expanding stakeholder engagement, bringing in underrepresented voices, and laying the groundwork for the formalisation of the Council.

On 23 April, a general meeting was held in Langa where the committee shared progress and welcomed new stakeholders into the space. The session also marked an important step forward, with participants identifying priority working groups and volunteers stepping up to help activate the Council’s work.

Looking ahead, the next workshop in mid-May will focus on shaping the Council’s mission and vision, setting short- to medium-term goals, and defining the aims of each working group. The session will also include a practical workshop on understanding public ward committee budgets, facilitated by the Movement for Care and the People’s Legal Centre.

*The Langa Food Council forms part of the broader AfriFOODlinks initiative, a multi-city project across Africa and Europe working to make urban food systems more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. In Cape Town, ICLEI Africa serves as the main convenor, with the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust (SAUFFT) as one of AfriFOODlinks’ implementing partners, supporting local food actors to lead the change they want to see.

Read more here: https://fairfood.org.za/2025/11/13/langas-journey-toward-a-community-led-food-council-begins/

24/04/2026

Recently, GrowSA celebrated the achievements of a dedicated group of individuals who have completed their journey of learning, mentorship, and skill development through Cohort 7 of the GrowSA learnership programme.

This cohort represents a new wave of changemakers, strengthening local food systems and driving impact within their communities.

Rooted in a mission to unlock human potential and support catalytic individuals working across gardens, kitchens, and markets, GrowSA equips participants with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to build a more sustainable and inclusive food system. The programme envisions resilient urban communities where local food systems thrive, creating pathways for food security, livelihoods, and ecological well-being.

“Congratulations to all the graduates. We look forward to seeing how you continue to grow and lead.” said Rirhandzu Marivate, Programmes Manager at SAUFFT.

GrowSA is a collaborative initiative supported by the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust

CommunityGardens

24/04/2026

Recently, GrowSA celebrated the achievements of a dedicated group of individuals who have completed their journey of learning, mentorship, and skill development through Cohort 7 of the GrowSA learnership programme.

This cohort represents a new wave of changemakers, strengthening local food systems and driving impact within their communities.

Rooted in a mission to unlock human potential and support catalytic individuals working across gardens, kitchens, and markets, GrowSA equips participants with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to build a more sustainable and inclusive food system. The programme envisions resilient urban communities where local food systems thrive, creating pathways for food security, livelihoods, and ecological well-being.

“Congratulations to all the graduates. We look forward to seeing how you continue to grow and lead.” said Rirhandzu Marivate, Programmes Manager at SAUFFT.

GrowSA is a collaborative initiative supported by the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust.

02/04/2026

Over the past year, farmers across the Agrihubs have taken on a more active leadership role, shaping how their projects are governed and sustained. Through farmer-led AGMs, the election of steering committees, and the extension of leadership tenures, farmers are actively guiding decision-making and ensuring continuity within their own spaces.

This shift reflects a growing sense of ownership and accountability, where farmers are not only participants but custodians of the Agrihub model. Governance structures are becoming more locally rooted, responsive, and reflective of the communities they serve.

These strides in farmer-led governance are also laying the groundwork for the next phase, with Agrihub farmers beginning to position themselves more confidently within local markets. In 2026, farmer agency is poised to strengthen further, supporting resilient food systems, fostering collective leadership, and laying the groundwork for long-term sustainability.

Learn more: https://fairfood.org.za/

20/03/2026

The Agrihub Summer Garden Competition took place between November and January across Langa, Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, and Gugulethu, targeting one of the toughest periods for urban farming and aiming to encourage persistence despite the challenges.

According to Lwando Sawule, Langa Agrihub Field Worker and Data Wrangler, during a season often marked by extreme heat and reduced participation, the competition aimed to encourage farmers to continue planting, maintaining, and harvesting.

“That continuity is critical, not just for production, but for strengthening skills, building confidence, and ensuring communities continue to have access to fresh, locally grown food,” said Lwando.

Of course, the journey wasn’t without challenges. Participation fluctuated due to the holiday period, and water constraints placed added pressure on already demanding growing conditions. These realities reflect broader systemic issues that urban farmers navigate daily.

But there were important learnings. Even with these challenges, farmers who remained engaged demonstrated improved garden management practices, including better irrigation and mulching, as well as more effective pest control. The competition also created space for peer learning, with farmers sharing knowledge and supporting one another. Perhaps most importantly, it fostered a sense of pride and ownership, showing that motivation can be sustained through the right kind of support and structure.

Ultimately, the Summer Garden Competition became a tool to build resilience and momentum, showing that targeted support during quieter periods can empower both individual farmers and the wider Agrihub network.

Participating and consistent farmers received seedlings, seeds and compost at the end of the competition to continue the journey towards thriving gardens all year round.

Fair Food SA - SA Urban Food + Farming Trust

10/06/2026

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