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Gauteng schools take top honours this World Food Month for developing thriving food gardens that fight food insecurity and hunger
Rustenburg, North West. 8 October 2025. 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 National Award category recognises schools which have excelled in implementing the theoretical and practical learnings during their participation in the EduPlant programme, establishing thriving food gardens at their schools.
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.
Provincial school winners:
Easten 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
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. EduPlant’s focus on sustainability, environmental ethics and food security matches our vision of resilient, food secure and healthy communities. We 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,” says Maanda Milubi, Director Transformation and Enterprise Supplier Development, Tiger Brands.
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. 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.
Chris Wild, Executive Director of Food & Trees for Africa noted, “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.”
The EduPlant programme culminates in a national awards ceremony recognising the best school food gardens across the country. 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. 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.
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
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
FULL LIST OF EDUPLANT FINALIST SCHOOLS:
GAUTENG
WESTERN CAPE
EASTERN CAPE
NORTHERN CAPE
KWAZULU NATAL
LIMPOPO
MPUMALANGA
FREE STATE
NORTH WEST
