KwaLanga growing food for change at Siyabulela and Mokone

In the way that things sometimes come full circle, Langa resident and retired chef, Mluleki Njokweni, went from making and plating food to preparing the earth that grows the ingredients for the food.

Mluleki is responsible for the food garden at Siyabulela Primary on Washington Street, having started there as a volunteer fourteen years ago.

On the small plot he grows broccoli, cauliflower, onion, beetroot, spring onion, kale, carrots and potato. The bulk of the vegetables are used in the school’s feeding scheme.

Any surplus vegetables are sold to the parents or gets used by Mluleki in his own culinary creations.

Late last year Shoprite, through its implementation partner Food and Trees for Africa, started hosting regular workshops to teach the pupils of Siyabulela Primary gardening techniques.

A short 20-minute walk away another garden is also receiving support from Shoprite. At Mokone Primary they grow beetroot, cabbage, spinach, onion and cauliflower. According to school principal Dominic Raphahlelo, buying fresh vegetables was just becoming too expensive and they were compelled to buy seedlings to start growing their own vegetables.

The learners are encouraged to work in the garden. Dominic shares the school’s hope, that by helping in the garden the learners come to  understand that they too are of value to the school - that they are part of the school.

Mokono Primary School is one of the schools supported by the VUSA Academy, a rugby and academic upliftment programme based in the community of Langa. eNCA recently visited the school to learn more about the programme and the food garden.