Food security is essential to human dignity and survival. While South Africa is considered food secure at a national level, many individuals—particularly students—face hunger and limited access to nutritious food.
This urgent issue was the focus of the Food Insecurity and Nutrition Knowledge Seminar, held on Friday, 11 April 2025, at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Hosted by UJ Sport in collaboration with the UJ Library and Information Centre, Centre for Ecological Intelligence (CEI), and the School of Tourism and Hospitality (STH), the seminar formed part of the UJ Healthy Campus Programme and addressed United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger.
Ms Nomsa Mahlangu, Senior Director: UJ Sport, noted that UJ is one of only two South African universities certified by the Federation of International Sport (FISU) as a Healthy Campus.
“A healthy campus focuses on the wellbeing of both staff and students. This seminar seeks to increase support for needy students, reduce hunger at UJ and beyond, and remove barriers to academic success. Through collective action, we can bring lasting solutions to our country and continent,” she said.
Prof Michael Rudolph, Director of CEI, highlighted the complexity of food security, linking it to environmental, economic, and social systems.
“Food insecurity is a leading global challenge,” he said. “Students often drop out due to hunger. We must address both undernutrition and overnutrition—such as obesity from high-fat, high-sugar diets. UJ can play a leading role through food gardens in residences and stronger policies promoting food security.”
He emphasised the need for institutional support, policy reform, student feedback, and the monitoring of interventions to ensure sustainable impact.
Mr Lukas Nangolo of 27Ten Concepts, representing Lucky Star, stressed the importance of a holistic approach to food and nutrition. Through the Heartbeat Sessions with UJ, Lucky Star promotes healthy eating and active living.
“Lucky Star is committed to fighting food poverty and insecurity. We’ve found the right partner in UJ to scale this initiative,” said Nangolo. Lucky Star also presented a R30,000 donation towards UJ’s Meal Assistance Programme.
Dr Hema Kesa, Director of UJ’s Food Evolution Research Laboratory (FERL), presented findings from a study on students’ nutritional knowledge and food environments. The research recommended promoting a culture of health and wellness through nutritious food options on campus, nutrition education, and events that support healthy lifestyles.
“Food insecurity remains a critical issue in low- and middle-income regions. University students are increasingly recognised as a vulnerable group,” Dr Kesa noted. “Empowering them with knowledge is key to their success and wellbeing.”
The seminar also featured Ms Cari Erasmus, a dietitian from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, who provided practical guidance on making affordable, nutritious food choices.
This was the first of two planned seminars at UJ focused on food insecurity. The second will take place in October 2025.
