More than 5,200 volunteers packed 1.2 million meals on Mandela Day, helping FoodForward SA strengthen food security for vulnerable communities across South Africa.
Thousands of volunteers united across Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town on Mandela Day as FoodForward SA (FFSA) hosted its annual Food Packing Events, producing 1.2 million meals to help combat hunger and food insecurity.
More than 5,200 corporate and community volunteers dedicated their 67 minutes of service to sorting and packing over 300 tonnes of nutritious food, which will be distributed through FoodForward SA’s network of more than 2,200 beneficiary organisations. These organisations include early childhood development centres, community kitchens and shelters that collectively support more than 862,820 vulnerable South Africans every day.
“Mandela Day is a powerful annual reminder that small, intentional actions, when multiplied by thousands of hands, create monumental change,” said Andy Du Plessis, Managing Director of FoodForward SA.
“Every single food item packed on the day represents nutritional security, dignity, and hope for a family facing the harsh reality of hunger during winter. We are incredibly grateful to our corporate partners, donors, and every volunteer who chose to spend their Mandela Day with us.”
Across the three venues, volunteers worked together to sort more than 400 pallets of food, demonstrating how collaboration between businesses, communities and civil society can address one of South Africa’s most pressing social challenges.
Despite South Africa being classified as food secure at a national level, household food insecurity remains widespread. According to Statistics South Africa, an estimated 18 million people go to bed hungry, while more than 1,000 children died from malnutrition last year.
At the same time, approximately 10 million tonnes of edible surplus food are lost or wasted annually. FoodForward SA addresses this challenge by recovering quality surplus food from farmers, manufacturers, retailers and supply chain partners before redistributing it to vulnerable communities across all nine provinces.
“This collective effort shows us how effectively civil society and corporate South Africa can unite to address critical social and humanitarian needs,” said Du Plessis.
“The food packed on Mandela Day offers essential relief to thousands of families navigating the difficult winter months, demonstrating the powerful impact of coming together to make a difference, one contribution at a time.”
