The Department of Basic Education (DBE), led by Deputy Minister Dr Reginah Mhaule, visited the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Ecological Intelligence (CEI) on 4 August 2026 to explore strategic partnership opportunities aimed at strengthening education through research, innovation and sustainable development. The visit focused on identifying collaborative programmes that can enhance teaching and learning whilst promoting food and nutrition security in schools. The programme included presentations on the work of the Centre for Ecological Intelligence and a tour of its Research, Training and Food Systems Hub, showcasing environmentally sustainable agricultural innovations.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, Professor Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya, welcomed the Deputy Minister and her delegation, highlighting food and nutrition security as a key institutional priority. She explained that the university adopts a multidisciplinary approach through the Centre for Ecological Intelligence, working alongside the faculties of Education; Art; Design and Architecture; Business and Economics; the Johannesburg Business School; and Health Sciences. She emphasised that food and nutrition security is not only a social welfare issue, but also an education, health, economic and nation-building priority that requires collaborative solutions.
Professor Phaswana-Mafuya noted that research consistently demonstrates the strong relationship between proper nutrition and academic performance. She explained that learners who attend school hungry struggle to concentrate, actively participate in class and reach their full academic potential. She emphasised that well-nourished learners are more likely to attend school regularly, perform better academically and develop into healthy, productive citizens who contribute meaningfully to society.
Director of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Centre for Ecological Intelligence, Professor Michael Rudolph, stressed that food and nutrition insecurity continues to affect learners across all levels of education. He welcomed the growing collaboration between the DBE, the Gauteng Department of Health and the UJ, describing it as an essential step towards addressing these challenges through a multi-sectoral approach. He encouraged collective responsibility, urging everyone to “plant, cultivate and take ownership” of the spaces in which they live and work to help build a healthier and more food-secure future.
During the walkabout, the Deputy Minister explored hydroponics; aquaponics; open-field cultivation; seedling nurseries; composting facilities; eco-toilet technology; and orchards. These innovative practices demonstrated practical solutions that could strengthen school food gardens, promote environmental education and improve food and nutrition security in schools. Deputy Minister Mhaule reaffirmed that learner nutrition must be guided by evidence-based collaboration between the education and health sectors. She noted that the National School Nutrition Programme now provides daily meals to approximately nine million learners, supported by an annual budget of about R10 billion. She further highlighted the introduction of breakfast in selected schools, following research showing improved learner attendance and punctuality. For many vulnerable children, these meals remain their only dependable source of daily nutrition.
The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of the DBE and UJ towards transforming education through innovation, research and sustainable development. By combining expertise across sectors, the partnership has the potential to empower schools, improve learner well-being and create lasting solutions that ensure every child can learn, thrive and build a brighter future for South Africa.