By Lebogang Mashala
Two social entrepreneurs in Cape Town are providing relief to hungry children through agriculture. They not only offer nutritious meals to students but also educate them about food production, nutrition and regenerative agriculture.
Nomvuyo Ntantala and Jade Orgill, alumni of Oribi’s food systems incubation programme, run separate school gardening projects around Cape Town.
Oribi is an incubator programme based in the Western Cape that provides skills development, financing and networking opportunities to support entrepreneurs.
Ntantala’s Ukuphumla Garden offers fresh vegetables to pupils at Vukukhanye Primary School in Gugulethu. The project helps address food insecurity in Ntantala’s community while combating the negative effects of poor plastic disposal and pollution. The garden accepts recyclable waste in exchange for fresh produce.
“I believe that food businesses should not solely focus on profit but rather on the value they bring to their community,” said Ntantala. “Bartering, a practice deeply rooted in African identity, can be a powerful tool for addressing malnutrition and waste.”
Ntantala’s goal is to expand the garden, use recycled materials for furniture and art, and establish additional agricultural operations to benefit her community. She mentors young female entrepreneurs in Oribi’s Girls in Business programme, empowering them to discover and pursue their passion for entrepreneurship.
“My philosophy centres on nurturing self-respect and community assets, which I believe are abundant in townships and hold the potential to foster a sense of belonging and connection among residents,” she said.
Orgill is a human development specialist dedicated to combating food insecurity in the Western Cape. Through her social enterprise, The Sprightly Seed, she establishes food gardens in schools, emphasising sustainability and self-sufficiency.
Orgill’s projects provide nutritious meals for children while also engaging them in the process. Her latest venture at Bel Porto School in Lansdowne blends ecosystems and community involvement with circular techniques such as composting and upcycling, resulting in a progressive and educational hub.
Recently, Oribi partnered with AfriFOODLinks on an incubation programme for early-stage entrepreneurs like Ntantala who aspire to create a more sustainable food supply chain through training and mentorship.
According to both organisations, in understanding the challenges within the food and agricultural sectors, they are looking to support practices that promote regenerative agriculture, circular waste management systems, access to healthy and nutritious food, food justice projects and agricultural innovation.
Tasneem Jhetam, programmes and innovation lead at Oribi, said the programme aims to foster awareness about the importance of social entrepreneurship. “By working together, we aim to showcase how social entrepreneurship can reignite our innate sense of community and solidarity as Africans. The solutions to malnutrition and hunger may be closer than we realise,” said Jhetam.
She said the incubation programme offers selected entrepreneurs access to mentorship, coaching, networking opportunities and grant funding.
