A crackling fire, armfuls of freshly harvested vegetables and the company of local farmers set the scene for popular South African content creator and chef Onezwa Mbola’s latest culinary journey in the Eastern Cape.
Mbola spent a day cooking with the farmers of Phawu Agripak Co-operative in Willowvale in the rural Eastern Cape. This community food garden is one of the entrants in Shoprite’s inaugural Act for Change Food Garden Competition.
According to a statement issued by Shoprite, surrounded by rows of cabbage, beetroot, kale, carrots and peppers, Onezwa – known for her passion for home-grown food and traditional cooking – prepared a festive, fire-cooked meal using vegetables harvested just metres away.
The statement noted that for Mbola, known for her farm-to-table approach and zero-waste cooking, the visit was a homecoming of sorts. “I make meals using ingredients I’ve grown or foraged,” she says.
Phawu Agripak felt like an extension of her own home, as she is also from Willowvale and lives close to the co-operative. “These vegetables tell the story of the people caring for them, and that adds a different kind of flavour to food,” she says.
During the visit, Mbola cooked alongside members of the co-operative, preparing root vegetables wrapped in foil and roasted on an open fire, homemade flatbreads and a fire-roasted chicken. Gathered around the fire, she and the community members chatted and connected over the meal, enjoying the warm, communal atmosphere.
“For me, open-fire cooking isn’t only for Christmas, it’s just how we cook at home. The smoke brings everything to life, especially root vegetables like beetroot, sweet potato and potatoes. But what makes it special is knowing exactly where they came from. That someone planted, watered and cared for them. You can taste that connection,” said Mbola.
The visit also inspired Onezwa to share some of her festive favourites with South Africans. Her go-to dish during the holidays is a hearty beef stew packed with vegetables from her garden and she’s encouraging home cooks to try millet, an indigenous grain she loves for its versatility and neutral flavour. “It’s perfect for salads and a great way to bring traditional ingredients into festive meals,” she says.
Explaining the origins of the Co-operative, the statement noted it was founded in 2019 on land inherited by community leader Bakhusele Mathupha, Phawu Agripak Co-operative has grown into a thriving hub supporting numerous women farmers and their families. Through training, permaculture practices and support from partners like Shoprite, the co-operative has transformed once-degraded soil into a sustainable, productive food system.
“From building compost systems to installing solar-powered water solutions that harvest 150 litres per hour, the team demonstrates how community gardens can thrive even in drought-prone areas,” the statement explained.
“For Bakhusele, success is not measured in money, but in meals.”
