In March this year, a Daily Maverick article exposed the heartbreaking reality of child malnutrition and extreme food insecurity in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga. With 54% of adults unemployed and a staggering 71% of youth unable to find work, families are struggling to meet even the most basic needs.
FoodForward SA could not ignore this crisis. With the generous support of our food and financial donors – Danone, Tiger Brands, RCL/Do More Foundation, and OneFarm Share – we launched a six-month emergency food relief intervention in April 2025, targeting learners and their families.
Working with our local beneficiary organisation (BO), Christelike Maatskaplike Raad van Bosbokrand (CMR), daily meals were prepared for an additional 500 community members, with a strong focus on school-going children.
But we knew this was just the beginning.
Expanding Our Reach
Since April, FoodForward SA has onboarded five additional beneficiary organisations in Bushbuckridge, each reaching between 200 and 500 vulnerable children and families every day. Together, these BOs are now providing nutritious meals to 3,084 people daily – a lifeline for thousands of children who would otherwise go hungry.
Here’s a snapshot of the organisations making an impact:
• Christelike Maatskaplike Raad van Bosbokrand – supporting 2,239 orphans and vulnerable children
• Ratanang Drop-in Centre – caring for 200 children
• Ikemeleng Creche – providing meals to 130 ECD learners
• Nhlengelo Home-Based Care – reaching 265 vulnerable children
• Mboni Drop-in Centre – supporting 250 children
Looking Ahead
While this intervention was originally planned to run until September 2025, the need remains urgent and overwhelming. With more than 85% of Bushbuckridge’s population living below the poverty line, FoodForward SA, together with our partners, is determined to extend this life-changing programme until February 2026.
Our goal is to bring more local BOs into the FoodForward SA network, ensuring that even more children and families have access to nourishing meals, and to strengthen these partnerships for long-term impact.
Every meal served is a step towards hope, dignity, and resilience for this community.
Thank you to all our donors and partners who are helping us fight food insecurity and malnutrition in Bushbuckridge. Together, we are proving that when we act with compassion and urgency, change is possible.