65% of student populations in some South African universities experience food insecurity[1]. The UCT Food Sovereignty programme was established in 2008 as a humanising intervention aimed at assisting food insecure students with a daily meal. The programme was later developed to a broader interaction that sought to provide monthly grocery packs contained non-perishable food items monthly and toiletries every second month. 

At the University of Cape Town, we understand the multidimensional nature of inequality in our society. We work hard to remove the barriers many talented students face in their journey toward becoming successful graduates who will become economically productive members of society. As is common in low-income settings, students are cutting back on the amount of money they are putting to food and toiletries in a bid to try to cover non-negotiable costs such as tuition and residence fees. This is causing growing student hunger and food insecurity on campus.

  • Many UCT students are reliant on financial aid or funding assistance
  • In 2021, 35% of our undergraduates were on bursaries
  • A growing number of undergraduate and postgraduate students are either unfunded or underfunded.
  • New restrictions on NSFAS funding have a direct impact on student success
  • These students are the main recipients on the current food programme at UCT

Since 2018, UCT has provided different food security support options, expanding the programme over the years. The underlying principles of the Food Sovereignty Programme are to promote dignity and agency through our interventions, to ensure the sustainability of the programme as an ethical imperative as well as to demonstrate ethical conduct in how we deliver the programme, relate to students and our partners and, how we work with donations.

At its inception, the programme provided support to 150 unfunded and underfunded student and has in the most recent distribution month seen the number of registered applicants surpass the 1100 participant mark.

The UCT Food Sovereignty Programme is entirely dependent on the goodwill of students, staff, alumni and donors for its ability to continue in successfully providing food assistance to student experiencing food insecurity.  A donation of R455 allows us to provide up to 2 weeks of non-perishable food items, enough for 1 cooked meal per day, and a month’s worth of toiletries. Each student would require at least R1800 in order to have enough food support to last the whole month. 

Pledge your support today

If you live outside of South Africa and would like to claim tax relief for your donation, you can do so in the following countries: Canada, USA, UK, and Australia.

Support the UCT Food Sovereignty Programme and help eliminate food insecurity on campus  

Nourishing young minds and bodies is vital. In the second half of 2023 and in 2024, UCT provided grocery packs each month. We need cash donations to expand the programme, ensuring that no UCT student goes hungry. Given the changes to NSFAS requirements, we expect the need to reach 1 250 students, per month in 2025.

Together, we are UCT. 

Your donation of R200 would provide a student with food for up to 7 days and enough toiletries for a month. A once-off donation of R1 000 will enable a student to eat for over a month. Your donation will ensure the sustainability of the UCT Food Sovereignty programme and contribute to the dignity, well-being and success of all UCT students.

The reality of food insecurity was recently highlighted within the South African Higher education landscape reports.

UCT Food Sovereignty Fund