What began with meals for 10 children has grown into a weekly feeding initiative reaching more than 150, after 24-year-old Lisakhanya Mabelu put her catering work on hold to help children in Mdantsane NU6.
Mabelu started cooking for children during the June 2026 school holidays, using food available at home. She had noticed that some children spent the entire day playing outside without returning home to eat.
“There were children who would play on the streets all day and not go home to eat.”
When she asked why, she discovered that there was no meal waiting for them at home. With schools closed, children who depended on school meals had lost an important source of food.
At the time, Mabelu had planned to focus on earning an income through event catering. Instead, she decided to use her cooking skills to support families in her neighbourhood.
“I was ready to move on with my own things, but because I also enjoyed cooking, I figured how I could use my skills to ease the burden on these families,” Mabelu said.
She said many parents relied on social grants, while their children received meals through school nutrition programmes during term time.
The need soon extended beyond the holidays. Mabelu now serves meals after school every Monday and Thursday, and on Sunday mornings, helping more than 150 children each week.
That growth has also brought challenges. Feeding a small group with food from home developed into a regular commitment requiring more groceries, preparation time and support.
“I realised I could not do it by myself,” she said.
Mabelu began sharing the soup kitchen’s work on social media. Her posts drew offers of groceries and financial contributions, along with encouragement from sponsors.
The support has helped her continue an initiative that grew far beyond what she initially imagined.
For Mabelu, the motivation remains simple: knowing that a child has had at least one meal makes the effort worthwhile.
