Our Story
Rooted in Community
Feed the Khaltsha began with a single plot and a shared belief — that no neighbour should go hungry.
Meet Thapelo Xabanisa
The Founder
Meet Thapelo Xabanisa
Thapelo Xabanisa grew up in Khayelitsha knowing what food insecurity felt like firsthand. That experience planted a seed — a conviction that community-led agriculture could change lives without waiting for outside intervention.
In 2022 he broke ground on the first plot at 33 Nonkxwe Street. What started as one man with a spade has grown into a network of volunteers, donors, and neighbours who believe that growing food together is an act of dignity.
Global Connections
Bringing the World to Our Garden
Through our partnership with Uthando South Africa, international visitors come to witness and support grassroots community work in Khayelitsha. Their presence brings resources, awareness, and a reminder that what we grow here matters far beyond our street.
Community Impact
Nourishing Sibongile Day and Night Care Centre
Sibongile Day and Night Care Centre has become one of our most important partners. We supply them with fresh, organic produce throughout the year — ensuring the children in their care receive nutritious meals regardless of season.
"Every vegetable that leaves this garden and reaches a child at Sibongile is proof that community care works." — Thapelo Xabanisa
What We Stand For
Our Values
Ubuntu
We are because we grow together. Every seed planted is an act of collective care.
Sustainability
We farm in harmony with the earth, using organic methods that protect the soil for future generations.
Education
We share knowledge freely — teaching children and adults alike how to grow, harvest, and cook nutritious food.
Food Dignity
Access to fresh, healthy food is a right, not a privilege. We work every day to make that real in Khayelitsha.
Our Journey
How We Grew
Breaking Ground
Thapelo & his team broke ground on the first plot — turning an unused space into the beginning of something meaningful.
First Harvests
The garden produced its first harvests, supplying fresh vegetables to families in the immediate neighbourhood and proving that the model could work.
Growing Recognition
We expanded our reach and established a managed supply to both the local market and Sibongile Day and Night Care Centre — gaining recognition from the wider community and attracting the attention of potential donors.
Feeding 200+ Families
Three full seasons in, the garden nourishes over 200 families each season. Sibongile's children receive a steady supply of organic produce, and global support continues to grow.
Reaching for More Space
With demand outpacing what our current plot can sustain, we set our sights on securing a larger space — one that would allow us to supply the community without interruption, season after season.
Roots Run Deeper
We secured land and startup materials — and right now, we are expanding. A new chapter is taking shape, one bed at a time.
Be Part of the Story
Feed the Khaltsha is always growing — and there is always room for one more pair of hands, one more donor, one more believer in what community can do.
Get Involved