Stellies faces hunger crisis: ‘Students go to bed hungry’

Lester Kiewit speaks to Reagan Johnson, Stellenbosch University's SRC Communications Officer.

Listen to the interview in the audio below.

When picturing food scarcity and hunger, the wealthy tree lined streets of Stellenbosch are probably not what comes to mind.

However, this struggle is the very sad reality for many Stellenbosch University students.

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Inadequate access to food is becoming a very real threat to their physical and mental well-being, and to their education.

The hunger crisis has become so severe that the University has had to issue a statement on the matter on campus and urged for help in feeding these students.

They say the social workers have become overwhelmed and the #Move4Food emergency food initiative has been stretched to its limits.

Stellenbosch is calling for donations of non-perishable food to help the hungry students.

Johnson says part of this problem is delayed NSFAS food allowance payments.

“It just shows the maladministration… they are literally letting our students go to bed hungry.”

- Reagan Johnson, Stellenbosch University's SRC Communications Officer