Word spread fast once people spotted ShareBiteSA members pushing a trolley loaded with food containers through the streets of Stellenbosch. On Mandela Day, 18 July, ShareBiteSA handed out food to 106 homeless people in Stellenbosch. This was a first for the non-profit organisation (NPO), which usually feeds students.
ShareBiteSA operations manager Nothando Ndlovu handed a plate of food to a homeless person in Stellenbosch during the organisation’s Mandela Day drive on 18 July. PHOTO: Bulela Sikithi
“Today we have decided to serve the people who are experiencing homelessness, because generally, ShareBiteSA is for students and we serve them every month, but to celebrate our one-year birthday, we decided to give back to the community,” said Nothando Ndlovu, the operations manager at ShareBiteSA.
By the end of the day, the group served over 100 homeless people in Stellenbosch; six more than their original target, with some calling out others nearby to go get a plate.
“It is always a bittersweet feeling to witness the struggles of our society and knowing that there isn’t much on a bigger scale that we can do to change circumstances immediately,” Ndlovu said.
ShareBiteSA volunteers handed out food from the trolley that drew Stellenbosch’s homeless community to the taxi rank on Mandela Day. PHOTO: Bulela Sikithi
“As we served people, you could see how their faces lit up and how appreciative they were. The way I see people experiencing homelessness changed and how they still have the heart to direct us to others […] and that just showed humanity,” said Lwandisile Mhlanga, a ShareBiteSA volunteer.
It was a sentiment echoed throughout the day — volunteers and ShareBiteSA staff noted how those served, despite having so little themselves, were quick to point out others nearby who also needed a plate.
“Every day I’m reminded that for our organisation to function smoothly even after I’ve left the on-the-ground work is a huge testament to the legacy built by the team, but most importantly one that continues to grow with its people,” said Francisca Darkoh, ShareBiteSA’s co-founder.
ShareBiteSA staff and volunteers preparing meals in the kitchen at Huis Russel Botman ahead of the organisation’s Mandela Day drive, where they set out to serve 100 homeless people in Stellenbosch and ended up reaching 106. PHOTO: Bulela Sikithi.
Darkoh and Brenald Dzonzi co-founded the initiative in 2024 as FoodByFrannidee, before relaunching it under the ShareBiteSA name in 2025 after identifying growing food insecurity on campus. They marked the relaunch on Mandela Day, 18 July 2025. The organisation now runs monthly, serving up to 350 students during each drive.
ShareBiteSA’s volunteers are Stellenbosch University (SU) students who give their time alongside their studies to help run the organisation’s food drives.
To find out more about ShareBiteSA, donate, or get involved, visit www.sharebite.co.za or follow them on Instagram at @sharebitesa.