KARIEGA – A youth-led agricultural project in KwaLanga reached a major milestone on Monday when Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe joined participants in delivering their first batch of spinach to a Kariega restaurant, signalling a breakthrough partnership between a municipal-supported community garden and the private sector.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe visited the Limekhaya Community Project at Limekhaya Secondary School in Maduna Road, KwaLanga, Kariega on Monday, 23 February. She, together with members of the Limekhaya Community Project, handed over freshly harvested spinach to Spur in Kariega.
Project coordinator for the Limekhaya Community Project, Akhanya Msizi, shared, “This is an agricultural community development initiative based in KwaLanga, operating from the Limekhaya Secondary School.”
Msizi added that there are 10 participants passionate about farming and agriculture, using this platform to eradicate poverty in the community. “We are using the skills that we have to participate in the local economy. We also received assistance from the municipality where needed.”
Elated by the success of the project, she shared their excitement about securing a new partnership with Spur Kariega to supply the branch with locally grown vegetables from their garden. “We are so proud of this partnership and our breakthrough into the private sector. We believe that we are heading to greater heights and higher horizons,” she concluded.
The municipality added that in the 2025/26 financial year, the EPWP, through its Public Employment Programme (PeP) grant, rolled out five projects focused on creating work opportunities and strengthening community development.
Monday marked a significant milestone for the Limekhaya Community Project, as participants delivered their first batch of spinach to a local Spur in Kariega, following successful negotiations led by the project members themselves.
The municipality also stated that this EPWP PeP-funded initiative showcases the impact of food security programmes, sustainable job creation, and community-driven development, empowering residents from informal settlements to build self-sustaining livelihoods.
Lobishe shared, “We were here to deliver spinach,” adding that it forms part of one of the municipality’s projects from the KwaLanga area. The Limekhaya Community Project will be supplying Spur with spinach.
She explained, “This is an initiative that has been successful as part of the municipality’s EPWP project. The project is spearheaded by project manager Akhanya (22). She is also responsible for securing a partnership with Spur Kariega to supply the project’s spinach to the company.”
Lobishe added, “As the municipality, we have been supporting the project by providing all the necessary resources for the garden. We will also be supporting their recycling project, on which we are engaging. We want KwaLanga to be clean and to enable them to become future entrepreneurs through this project.”
Giving thanks to those responsible, Lobishe expressed her gratitude to the Department of Human Settlements, whilst confirming that there are other schools that will be involved in the project.
We will also be supplying water stands and unrestricted access to water to Limekhaya Secondary School so that the school does not have any problems maintaining the garden.
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