On 16 October, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) marked World Food Day with a powerful show of unity as corporate partners, staff, and alumni joined forces to support the UWC Food Bank.

This initiative, which ensures students have access to essential foodstuffs, aims to tackle food insecurity and ensure no student goes hungry—especially during exam season.

Contributions from several prominent companies will sustain the UWC Food Bank beyond this campaign.

Shoprite donated R10 000, Tiger Brands doubled its annual allocation to R2-million and also gave an additional R4000 to the event, Gift of the Givers and Titan Cargo contributed R30 000 and a further R30 000 per month in 2025, The Fix contributed R10 000 and Woolworths gifted 300 food items to the campaign.

In addition to corporate support, staff members and alumni rallied to donate food items and funds, showing their solidarity with students facing food insecurity.

Prof Anesh Singh, Director of Institutional Advancement at UWC, praised the collective effort: “Student hunger is a reality we cannot ignore. This campaign proves that when corporate partners, staff, alumni, and the university community work together, we can make a significant impact. We are grateful for every contribution that ensures our students don’t go hungry during this critical time. This support reflects that #UWCCares.”

Ali Sablay from Gift of the Givers emphasised the value of collaboration: “We’ve seen food insecurity grow among students across South Africa. Titan Cargo’s commitment to supplying UWC and other universities with monthly food parcels is essential, and events like this inspire further support.”

The FIX (TFG) Marketing Manager, Desireé Visagie, said this campaign aligns with its objective — #DoWhatsRight: “It’s inspiring to see so many sectors unite to tackle student hunger. We are proud to collaborate with UWC and look forward to building more partnerships in the future.”

Tiger Brands’ Group External Affairs Director, Lulu Khumalo, highlighted the alignment of their ongoing student nutrition programme with UWC’s efforts.

“Through our Plates4Days initiative, we’ve seen how essential nutrition is for student success. By supporting UWC’s Food Bank, we’re ensuring that students have the opportunity to focus on their studies and work toward a better future.”

With corporate donors, staff, alumni, and the broader UWC community working hand-in-hand, this campaign is not just addressing hunger—it’s fostering a united front to support student success.

Together, they are proving that collaboration is the key to overcoming challenges and building a brighter future.

The month-long Food Security Campaign continues through October, with more opportunities for the public to contribute.

Donations of tinned food can be dropped off at collection points across the main campus, and financial donations can be made to the UWC Alumni Account (details below).

Banking Details for Donations:
Account name: UWC Alumni Account
ABSA account number: 4068739851
Branch Code: 630305
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