Hunger is increasingly becoming a major obstacle to academic achievement at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), with thousands of students struggling to access food at the beginning of the academic year. In response, the institution has made an urgent appeal for food support to prevent vulnerable students from falling behind academically.
The university estimates that around 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 disbursed. Although more than 60% of UWC students depend on NSFAS allowances, these funds are usually only paid out in March or April. In the meantime, students are expected to attend lectures, complete assessments and adjust to university life, often without consistent access to meals.
To help close this gap, UWC has launched its “Feed the Need” campaign, aiming to raise approximately R7.4 million worth of food to support affected students for approximately two months. The university has stressed that food parcels and meals will be distributed discreetly to protect students’ dignity and privacy.
University officials have warned that hunger has a direct impact on academic performance. They note that food insecurity affects concentration, attendance, retention and completion rates, placing capable students at an unfair disadvantage.
UWC’s Vice Chancellor, Tyrone Pretorius, emphasised the seriousness of the crisis. “No student should have to choose between hunger and their education. If we are committed to student success, we must ensure that basic needs such as food are met.” He added that student hunger is not merely a welfare issue but an educational priority. “When students are hungry, their ability to focus, participate and perform academically is severely compromised. Addressing food insecurity is central to our mission as a university.”
For one first-year student named Gerhard from a rural village in the Northern Cape, starting university has brought both promise and hardship. With his NSFAS funding still pending, he has had to attend lectures on an empty stomach. Through UWC’s food support programme, students like Gerhard receive simple but nourishing meals, typically rice, beans and vegetables, designed to restore energy and improve focus while awaiting the finalisation of their funding.
The scale and human impact 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 family members 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.
University leadership said these testimonies demonstrate that student hunger is not an individual failure, but a systemic challenge requiring collective action. Officials reiterated that ensuring reliable access to food is essential to student wellbeing, equity and academic success.
UWC has called on staff, alumni, corporate partners, philanthropic organisations and members of the public to contribute cash donations or non-perishable food items to the Feed the Need campaign, stressing that every contribution helps keep students focused, engaged and able to succeed during a critical period of the academic year.
