Picture: Winners in the National Awards category of the National, EduPlant school greening and food nutrition programme competition 2025/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
8 October 2025- Gauteng schools take top honours this World Food Month for developing thriving food gardens that fight food insecurity and hunger. EduPlant, South African premier school greening and food nutrition programme, has named the winners in its National Competition 2025.
Molefe Mooke Primary School from Gauteng took first place in the National Award category, while Dilopye Pre-Vocational School from Gauteng was placed first in the National Centre of Excellence Awards category. Second and third place in the National Award category went to Nkabini Primary School from KwaZulu Natal and Toronto Primary School from Limpopo respectively.
The Director of Transformation and Enterprise Supplier Development at Tiger Brands, Maanda Milubi said the National Award category recognises schools, which have excelled in implementing theoretical and practical learning during their participation in the EduPlant programme, establishing thriving food gardens at their schools. Milubi said second place in the National Centre of Excellence Awards category went to Nobanda Primary School in KZN, and Alabama Primary School from the North West province placed third.
“This award category celebrates EduPlant alumni schools, which mentored the new schools participating in the programme in the 2024/2025 cycle. Winning schools receive a share of R221 000 in cash prizes to support further food-growing efforts.
“EduPlant is a Food & Trees for Africa (FTA) programme in partnership with Tiger Brands. The programme is in its 28th year geared at tackling the critical challenge of malnutrition and hunger in South Africa. Tiger Brands invest in initiatives such as EduPlant because we understand that a hungry mind cannot learn well,” he said.
Milubi further said EduPlant’s focus on sustainability, environmental ethics and food security matches their vision of resilient, food secure and healthy communities. He added that they are encouraged that learners in the programme can share their knowledge with others at home and in their communities, who are then empowered to do the same and multiply the impact.
“Thirty-two schools from across South Africa were shortlisted from a total of 300 schools onboarded as EduPlant participants at the start of 2024. The schools received extensive training in permaculture practices to assist them in growing their own vegetables, fruit, and herbs.
“The produce is harvested and served as part of the schools’ learner feeding programmes. Any surplus crops are shared by the schools with their surrounding communities. The thirty-two schools shortlisted in the national competition were singled out for the way learners implemented their newfound knowledge to grow a successful garden,” said Milubi.
He said by involving schools in permaculture food gardening, it teaches students important life skills while improving food security, promoting better nutrition, and creating a healthier ecological balance.
Executive Director of Food & Trees for Africa, Chris Wild said: “While food security and nutrition is at the core of the EduPlant programme, it is more than that. We see learners becoming leaders. They practice communication and teamwork skills and have experiences that they otherwise would not have.
“These learners will carry these experiences with them for the rest of the lives, and I feel privileged to be part of something that can influence a learner to such an extent.”
Wild said the EduPlant programme culminates in a national awards ceremony recognising the best school food gardens across the country. He said these are schools which are transforming their grounds into vibrant living classrooms through permaculture food gardening, cultivating both food security and environmental champions.
“The rigorous selection process included the submission of a video documentary and a Portfolio of Evidence from each school, culminating in an in-person presentation the day before the awards ceremony. This is the first time since 2019 that the national finalist awards have been hosted in-person.
“Children from finalist schools were bussed from across the country to the host venue – Konka Tours in Rustenburg in the North West province. For many, this journey was a life-changing first – leaving their towns and joining peers from across the country for a two-day, activity-filled camp experience,” said Wild.
He said over the two-day programme, learners presented their skills, showcased their gardens, and participated in enriching activities like herb workshops, drumming circles, and tree planting. Wild said over the past two years, the programme has fostered environmental literacy and self-sufficiency in hundreds of under-resourced schools.
“By engaging learners and educators in hands-on permaculture, it equips students with vital life skills, improves nutrition, supplements the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), and establishes ecological balance.
“The impact of these gardens is profound. They provide essential nutrients to children, consequently improving their ability to concentrate and learn. This success also creates a powerful ripple effect. Financial savings from food purchases are strategically re-routed, allowing schools to invest in garden resources, educational materials, educator training, and volunteer stipends, uplifting the entire community,” he said.
Wild said furthermore, schools with community-supported gardens report better neighbourhood relationships, reduced vandalism, and decreased absenteeism, strengthening the social fabric of entire communities.
Provincial school winners:
Eastern Cape: Jamangile Senior Secondary School
Free State: Dr MG Mngoma Public School
Gauteng: Philip Kushlick Special Needs School
KZN: Kwa Ngubeni Primary School
Limpopo: Moriting Primary School
Mpumalanga: Mahushe Agricultural School
North West: Temoso Special School
Northern Cape: Simololang Primary School
Western Cape: Rouxville Primary School
The Winners:
| NATIONAL CATEGORY | |||
| FIRST PLACE | Molefe Mooke Primary School (Gauteng) | ||
| SECOND PLACE | Nkabini Primary School (KZN) | ||
| THIRD PLACE | Toronto Primary School (Limpopo) | ||
| CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE CATEGORY | |||
| FIRST PLACE | Dilopye Pre-Vocational Schol (Gauteng) | ||
| SECOND PLACE | Nobanda Primary School (KZN) | ||
| THIRD PLACE | Alabama Primary School (North West) | ||
| PROVINCIAL WINNERS (SEE FULL LIST OF FINALISTS BELOW) | |||
| EASTERN CAPE | Jamangile Senior Secondary School | ||
| FREE STATE | Dr MG Mngoma Public School | ||
| GAUTENG | Philip Kushlick Special School | ||
| KZN | Kwa Ngubeni Primary School | ||
| LIMPOPO | Moriting Primary School | ||
| MPUMALANGA | Mahushe Agricultural School | ||
| NORTH WEST | Temoso Special School | ||
| NORTHERN CAPE | Simololang Primary School |
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