“MASPINACH” TAKES SOUTH AFRICAN SPINACH TO ROME FOR GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY FORUM

By Madali Chibambu

Tintswalo Makhubele, affectionately known as “Maspinach,” will represent the Gauteng Department of Social Development and South African women at the UN Food Security Conference in Rome next month, showcasing local spinach and its journey towards sustainable livelihoods.

 Scheduled for October 10, the conference will feature Maspinach discussing innovative approaches to food security and community empowerment, bolstered by support from the Department.

Her initiatives, including teaching women to create backyard gardens and training youth in agriculture and business skills, have significantly impacted local communities, with over 200 young people trained and a flourishing supply chain for street vendors and the Johannesburg market.

Tintswalo Makhubele, affectionately known as “Maspinach,” will proudly represent the Gauteng Department of Social Development and the women of South Africa at the United Nations Food Security Conference in Rome next month. She will share their inspiring journey from poverty to sustainable livelihoods, taking South African-grown spinach to the global stage. 

Maspinach, a member of Imvuselelo Bakery and Food Distribution, a non-profit organisation funded by the Gauteng Department of Social Development, expressed her excitement: “I am taking South African spinach to Rome,” she said with a smile.

Set to take place on October 10, the UN Food Security Conference will feature Maspinach as part of the official programme, where she will discuss innovative approaches to food security and community empowerment. The Department has been a key supporter of Maspinach’s initiatives, providing capacity building, financial backing, and governance support. One of her most impactful projects involves teaching women to create backyard food gardens, transforming them into self-sustaining hubs for skills sharing and community nourishment.

“We train women on how to plant and maintain their gardens, encouraging them to share seedlings to minimise costs,” Maspinach explained. In addition to empowering women, Maspinach has extended her efforts to include youth training as part of poverty alleviation and job creation. “We teach them to grow vegetables for sale and provide lessons on marketing, pricing, and grading in our stores,” she added.

Maspinach’s spinach initiative has flourished, now supplying street vendors and the Johannesburg market. She proudly shared, “We’ve trained over 200 young people, and each time they leave, they carry spinach to share with their families.” Her spinach journey, which began in the fields of Meyerton, is now set to inspire global conversations in Rome.