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The National Development
Plan (NDP) is South Africa’s
blueprint of what the country
wants to achieve by 2030 and
how this will be achieved. One
aspect is addressing food
insecurity through agriculture
and rural development. The
Department of Community
Extension at MUT has long
been working with the
community through various
agricultural projects aimed at
capacitating members of the
Umlazi Township in correct
agricultural practices that will
aid in growing crops for food.
To continue these efforts
against food insecurity, Xolile Mkhize,
Senior Lecturer in the Department of Community
Extension, hosted a delegation from the Let’s Food
Cities organisation as part of their visit to Durban
to conduct a study on the Durban food system.
According to its website, Let’s Food Cities is a French
NGO which works to “raise awareness for and support
local governments around the world as they pursue
a shift to sustainable, territory-based food systems,
using international cooperation between cities as
leverage”.
The study in Durban is part of a bigger project by
the French NGO. Let’s Food Cities has paired seven
French cities to seven cities from Africa, Asia, Latin
America and the Middle East in an effort to reinforce
international partnerships with local governments on
the subject of food and to share experiences. Durban
is paired with the French city of Nantes.
The delegation from France was studying the Durban
food system in order to compile an assessment
report on how cities around the world are looking
at addressing urban food security in a time of rapid
urbanisation. Mkhize was identified as one of the
stakeholders who are part of the City’s programme
in addressing food insecurity. She contributed her
knowledge and expertise to the research, and also
took the delegation on a field tour around various food
Community Extension senior lecturer collaborates with Let’s
Food Cities
Xoli Mkhize, second from left, with French researchers
stakeholders in Umlazi Township who play a major
role in ensuring food access within the township.
Mkhize also led the delegation to the informal
settlements to conduct a situational analysis on
food consumption patterns in relation to strategies
for providing access to food production. “The gap
between the rich and poor is growing, affecting food
security in the city. Access to income is a major factor,”
said Mkhize. “Street vendors are key in accessing
food, as opposed to fresh produce markets. Student
food access is also influenced by those markets,
including the fast food industry.”
The eThekwini Municipality has a responsibility to
address challenges faced by an urbanising society
whilst ensuring the regional food system is functional
and promotes urban agriculture. Umlazi Township is
key to these efforts because a significant part of the
overall municipal population resides in it; and since
the majority of the Umlazi Township population lives
below the poverty line, there is a high level of food
insecurity on the MUT’s doorstep.
Mkhize’s participation in this research collaboration
between Let’s Food Cities and eThekwini Municipality
will ensure that as a major anchor of the city, Umlazi
Township benefits from the City’s efforts.