24 February 2022
The Shoprite Group is further expanding its support of KwaZulu-Natal communities by investing in an additional 30 food gardens in the province. This builds on the success of the more than 15 gardens – including Thubelihle Special Opportunity School and Hlabana Magalele Supplies – in the province already supported by Shoprite.
The retailer is incubating several food gardens in Mfume, Maqongqo, Inanda, KwaMashu and Newlands West and distributed seedlings, fertiliser, gardening tools and more to assist community members to start and grow sustainable food gardens.
Beneficiaries also received a training session on how to take care of their gardens.
“I am excited to be a part of this initiative. It will help me provide food for my family and my community and it is heartwarming to know that Shoprite supports communities with the long-term in mind.”
- Thando Lushozi, from Lushozi Farming in Inanda, one of the beneficiaries
Mathonsi Smangele of the Dladla Garden in Pietermaritzburg.
“We are further extending our support to communities in KwaZulu-Natal following last year’s unrest and with this programme we aim to empower them and ensure that the gardens are supported during each of the stages of growth. Communities are struggling due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, and this programme will provide much needed relief.”
- Sanjeev Raghubir, Sustainability Manager at the Shoprite Group
Supporting food gardens is one of the many ways in which Shoprite ensures sustainable food security in under-resourced and vulnerable communities across South Africa. It supports more than 150 food gardens and over 2 500 home gardens – which impacts almost 17 000 beneficiaries - and in the past year trained more than 570 community members in sustainable food gardening.
Philani Dube from FTFA providing training on how to take care of your garden.