The City of Johannesburg Department of Social Development Food Resilience Unit, in partnership with Diepkloof Square, hosted a market day in celebration of World Hunger Day on May 28.

The day saw small-scale subsistence farmers and local business owners from Diepkloof and surrounding areas gather at Diepkloof Square to showcase their work and products.

The centre manager for Diepkloof Square, Mbali Sindana, said the day was aimed at commemorating World Hunger Day.

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“As Diepkloof Square, we reached out to the Department of Social Development to assist us with the community garden that we are currently starting at the back of the mall.

“The place was previously an illegal dumping site hotspot and it was unsafe for both businesses and the community, so we are converting that space into a garden where community members can make a living. Today is a build-up to the launch of the community garden,” Sindana said.

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She added that they had invited local farmers and agro-processors to display their work and show the community that it is possible to earn a living through farming, whether through poultry or gardening.

“We are aiming to promote food security and create employment within Diepkloof because the people who will be working at the garden are local residents.

“We want people to be aware that as Diepkloof Square, we support such initiatives and we are partners with Social Development.

“We are happy about today’s turnout and are looking forward to supplying our tenants from the vegetable garden we are starting.

“The produce will be sold to our shops in Diepkloof Square. We would like the community to support us and, most importantly, support local farmers. The date of the garden launch will be posted on our social media pages,” she said.

One of the attendees, Refiloe Molefe, founder of Fifi’s Veggie Farmacy from Naturena, said such initiatives are vital in communities as they give farmers and business owners an opportunity to market themselves and also allow residents to learn about the importance of consuming organic food grown in their own gardens.

Molefe said she had transformed a neglected bowling green in the inner-city suburb of Bertrams into a thriving two-acre urban farm.

“My business started in 2006 through a soap kitchen for local children. Through the assistance of various companies like Blue Ribbon, we moved on to supplying bread to households and continued working with day care centres. I then moved from Bertrams to Naturena in 2022 after the city demolished the farm.

“Currently, I am heading the Fountain of Youth Entrepreneurship Project, which teaches township youth about sustainable agriculture and agro-processing,” she said.

Molefe also sells atchar, fresh-produced smoothies and hot sauces.