Food Politics Panel Discussion

Rirhandzu Marivate is the project manager for the Living Soils Community Learning Farm, that is situated in the Lynedoch Valley, Stellenbosch. The project helps address issues of local food insecurity by contributing to feeding 200 vulnerable children that attend various SI educational programmes, through their feeding scheme, as well as at-risk families in the Lynedoch Valley while providing a training platform for young farmers of colour from the local Stellenbosch community.

Gareth Haysom is a researcher at the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town. Has 15 years of experience in the private sector before returning to academia in 2004 where he has held various teaching and research positions at Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town. Gareth’s work focuses on urban food. This approach uses food as a lens to better understand urbanisation in cities of the global South with a specific interest in African cities, working in a variety of countries and across city types.

Chuma is a food activist that wants to build sustainable livelihoods within the occupation that she currently resides in. She currently hopes to contribute to building food sovereignty within the City, through actively being part of Local movements such as the Food Sovereignty campaign which is part of alliances like La Via campesina globally and with other partners

Henriette Abrahams is the chairperson of the Bonteheuwel Development Forum working on issues around safety, health, and food security. Henriette is an activist with over 30 years of experience in the NGO sector.