A Lansdowne-based nonprofit has expanded its mother and child nutrition programme to reach 70 more mothers, young children and families in Bloekombos and Wallacedene, Kraaifontein.
FoodForward SA launched the expansion on Thursday 20 August at the Wallacedene Clinic, in partnership with the City of Cape Town Health Department.
The programme focuses on the first 1 000 days of a child’s life the period from conception to a child’s second birthday. During this window, proper nutrition lays the foundation for lifelong health, growth and brain development.
Local clinics identify underweight mothers and malnourished children. Health workers monitor their growth over time. Mothers receive nutrition education and monthly food parcels from FoodForward SA.
To date, 535 patients have completed the full nutrition intervention, according to FoodForward SA.
More than 1.5 million children suffer from malnutrition every year in South Africa. The FoodForward SA Household Food Insecurity Report shows that 17.8 million people in the country were food insecure in 2023. Of those, 8 million faced severe food insecurity. This leaves young children at risk of stunting, a condition where a child is too short for their age because of chronic undernutrition. Stunting can cause lifelong physical and cognitive developmental challenges. South Africa produces more than enough food to feed its people, yet millions remain without enough to eat, according to FoodForward SA. The organisation recovers surplus food from supply chain partners and redirects it to communities in need.
Community voices
Andy Du Plessis, Managing Director of FoodForward SA, said the first 1 000 days offer a unique window to shape a child’s future.
“Our programme combines nutritious food support with community-based healthcare to ensure children do not just survive but thrive,” he said. “By extending our footprint into Bloekombos and Wallacedene alongside our local government and community partners, we are scaling a proven model that builds healthier, more resilient households.”
Everin Van Rooyen, Head of Personal Primary Health Care at the City of Cape Town, welcomed the partnership. “We are grateful for this collaboration; despite our best efforts, there are still challenges, and this initiative is an opportunity; mothers can now have more.”
Sr Carlin November, Facility Manager at Wallacedene Clinic, said the clinic identifies at-risk mothers and children and provides nutrition education, but cannot provide food. That is where FoodForward comes in,” she said.
Hewitt De Jager, founder of HewLin Compassion NPO, which will help distribute the food parcels, said food is a powerful connector. “This will restore dignity and hope in the community, and the children’s lives will be positively impacted.” Chantal Naidoo, Coordinator of Health Programmes for the City of Cape Town, said mothers now have the opportunity for a healthier pregnancy and healthy babies who will grow into healthy children.
FoodForward SA Board Member Namhla Skweyiya, who attended the event, thanked healthcare workers for their personal care for the community. She reminded mothers that they had been entrusted with their children, to support them to reach their full potential. FoodForward SA, established in 2009, is South Africa’s largest food redistribution organisation. It operates in all nine provinces and is a certified member of the Global Foodbanking Network.
ALSO READ: Fish Hoek Valley women who shaped history remembered at library talk
