UWC's fight against hunger to support student success

Hunger is emerging as a serious barrier to academic success for thousands of students at the University of the Western Cape, prompting the institution to launch an urgent appeal for food support at the start of the academic year.

The university estimates that about 10 000 students will require food assistance between February and April, while waiting for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to be paid out.

More than 60% of UWC students rely on NSFAS, but funds are typically only disbursed in March or April. During this gap, students are expected to attend lectures, write assessments and settle into university life, often without reliable access to food.

To address the shortfall, UWC has launched its Feed the Need campaign, which aims to raise approximately R7.4 million worth of food to support affected students for about two months. The university says assistance will be delivered discreetly to protect students’ dignity and privacy.

University officials warn that hunger directly affects concentration, attendance, retention and completion rates, placing capable students at an unfair disadvantage.

For Gerhard* (not his real name), a first-year student from a rural village in the Northern Cape, the start of university has brought both hope and hardship. With his NSFAS funding still pending, he faces days of attending lectures on an empty stomach.

Through UWC’s food support programme, students like Gerhard receive simple meals — typically rice, beans and vegetables — designed to restore energy and focus while they wait for funding to be finalised.

The scale and human cost of student hunger were further highlighted during a Hunger Hearing hosted by UWC’s Institute for Social Development in August last year. Students spoke openly about how food insecurity shapes their academic performance, mental health and sense of dignity.

One student described surviving on poor-quality food after rent was paid, while another spoke about the sudden loss of state support when transitioning from school to university. Several students also described the pressure to share their limited NSFAS funds with families back home.

“You have to choose: do I get a job to feed myself but take longer to graduate, or do I go hungry and finish as quickly as possible, because my family is waiting for me to start contributing?” one student told the hearing.

UWC said the testimonies underscored that student hunger is not an individual failure, but a systemic challenge requiring collective action.

The university has called on staff, alumni, corporates, philanthropic organisations and members of the public to contribute cash donations or non-perishable food items, stressing that every contribution helps ensure students remain engaged in their studies during a critical period.

*Not his real name

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