Nelson Mandela University students, staff and alumni are urged to join the Mandela Walk for Student Hunger on Friday, 29 May 2026.
Organised by the office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Learning and Teaching, Professor Muki Moeng, the Walk aims to create awareness and create solidarity about the reality of student hunger at the university.
Professor Muki Moeng
According to Prof Moeng, there are hundreds of students nationally who go hungry, as they are unfunded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and Mandela University is not an exception.
She refers to research titled, “Exploring the relationship between food insecurity with hunger and academic progression at a large South African University, published in the South African Journal of Higher Education, which indicates that hunger “affects students’ ability to focus”. This has a ripple effect by negatively impacting their academic performance, which ultimately affects them passing and graduating.
“This is heartbreaking. We want all our students to graduate on time and to go out and change the world. The longer they spend at university, the longer it takes for them to go out, get jobs or become entrepreneurs and make a meaningful contribution to society and our economy,” said Prof Moeng.
She heads the University’s Student Nutrition Working Group, where various individuals, groups, departments and faculties are attempting to address the issue of student hunger in their own way.
“These include academic staff cooking meals for individual students; residences that have started food gardens or have registered cooperatives; and individuals and faculties that manage food pantries and an Ubuntu coffee bar.
"This is in addition to the institution’s official provision of food parcels that are distributed monthly to unfunded students. However, this is not enough as many students struggle with food insecurity and cannot afford basic personal items, like toiletries.
"The Walk provides an opportunity for staff, students and alumni to unite, to affirm the importance of student wellbeing, and to contribute toward building a more caring and responsive university environment," said Prof Moeng.
Donations are being collected in the form of sanitary towels, non-perishable foods, toiletries.
Donations of money may be made to the University’s Giving Campaign: https://mandela.devman.co.za/devman/studenthunger/giving/ OR Direct Deposit (EFT). Donors must please include the cost centre “X180” as part of their transaction description. Account Name: Nelson Mandela University Trust. Bank: ABSA. Branch Code: 632005. Account Number: 16 4017 2998. Swift Code: ABSAZAJJ (international payments).
Donations in kind may be dropped off at the start and finish of the Walk, which is the South Campus Stadium Clubhouse and the George Campus Mopani Hall. The walk is scheduled to take place on Friday, 29 May 2026 from 08:00 - 13:00.