The Faculty of Applied and Health Sciences’ Department of Community Extension continues its efforts to promote the correct habits when it comes to what people eat. On 11 September 2025, the department joined other like-minded organisations and delivered the necessary information to the local community at the Ghandi Settlement Centre, near KwaMashu, Durban. This community outreach event was hosted by the Nutrition Society of South Africa (NSSA). Professor Xolile Mkhize of the Community Extension department said the event aimed at addressing malnutrition and promoting healthier urban lifestyles. Under the theme “Empowering Healthy Lifestyles Through Good Nutrition, Urban Gardening, and Informed Food Choices”, the event brought together students, partners, and community members, some of whom took part in the practical sessions. Professor Mkhize, an NSSA Council Member and the Eastern Branch Chairperson, described the initiative as a significant step for nutrition advocacy in the province.
Reinforcing what some of the speakers said, students and staff from the Department of Community Extension first told the community members about the importance of practising effective urban agriculture, and then invited some members of the community to a demonstration, where Nhlakanipho Mavundla, a staff member, led the talk and a hands-on activity. “Plants, like us humans, are living things. You need to treat them well,” said Mavundla, demonstrating how transplanting is done. “Our staff and students mobilised the community with an inspiring and practical experience that highlighted how small-scale gardening can transform household nutrition and raise their level of food security,” said Professor Mkhize, who emphasized that inspiring behaviour change, building resilience, and empowering communities to take ownership of their wellbeing is vital in urban areas, where unique health and nutrition challenges are most pronounced.
Other organisations that delivered some vital information to the community were the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) students, who shared simple and practical guidelines for healthy eating; the Durban University of Technology (DUT) students, who introduced creative and affordable meal options, showing the community how to prepare nutritious dishes on a limited budget. Adding flavour to the event, the Unilever Foods team demonstrated how nutritious meals can also be tasty and enjoyable. The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) gave a talk on climate change.
A member of the Ghandi Settlement Centre, Lillian Mokoate, said they were happy with the information delivered by the various speakers. “Now we know that junk food is not good; we were told what good food is. Also, when we were growing up, there was no climate change. We are frightened about climate change,” Mokoate said.