A Mission to Feed and Empower
Despite the country’s relative wealth, South Africa continues to face alarming levels of childhood malnutrition and stunting. In the Western Cape, a small but dedicated team is working tirelessly to address this issue by providing nutritious meals to children of farm workers. At the Pebbles Kitchen located at Klein Joostenberg, outside Stellenbosch, Karlena Matthyzer is busy preparing meals that will soon be distributed across the region.
Matthyzer is scooping boiled samp into plastic packets, which are then labeled with “packed date” and “best before date” before being frozen and stored for distribution. She mentions that her favorite meal is the Malay curried chicken, which she says is a hit with the children. Living on the nearby Kaapzicht Wine Estate, Matthyzer benefits from the same meals that support her grandson and son.
The kitchen produces between 2,200 and 2,400 meals daily, with about 1,000 of these going directly to children in Pebbles’ programs. The rest are shared with other local charitable organizations.
Dante Zwaan drives the Pebbles refrigerated truck weekly, delivering meals to farm worker children in areas such as Clanwilliam and Citrusdal, as well as throughout the Cape Winelands, from Franschhoek to the Hemel en Aarde Valley.
Founding the Pebbles Project
Founded in 2004, the Pebbles Project was initially focused on education and skills development for children on Western Cape partner farms. The project offers services to farm owners who want to improve the lives of children on their estates. Some farm owners provide buildings for activities, while others pay nominal fees or employ teachers.
According to the organization’s latest annual report, 4% of their funding comes from the government, with the rest coming mostly from donors. The charity currently operates 32 early child development centers for children up to five years old and 19 after-school clubs, along with a mobile library and various activities such as football, dancing, surfing, and marimba bands.
The Nutrition Programme
In 2015, the project recognized that children attending their education programs were not receiving adequate nutrition. This led to the creation of the Pebbles Nutrition Programme, made possible through donations from two Dutch organizations: the Stichting Clouds Foundation and Goede Mensen. The program’s airy 450m² kitchen opened four years later.
Thelma Du Plooy, the project’s kitchen and nutrition service manager, explains that hunger hinders learning. “You cannot teach a hungry child,” she says. “You cannot teach a sick child.” The project has grown organically, incorporating nutrition into its mission.
A Special Menu
Du Plooy outlines a menu featuring 14 meals, including boerewors and baked bean stew, chicken chakalaka, and lentil and spinach bolognaise. These are served with rice, samp, pasta, or maize. The recipes were developed in collaboration with Dr Yolande Smit, a senior lecturer in human nutrition at Stellenbosch University.
Dr Smit brings her students to the kitchen for practical experience, conducting nutrient analysis. Du Plooy notes that portion sizes are crucial. For example, children under five receive 100 grams of sauce and starch per portion, while those aged 16–25 get 150 grams of each.
Cooking for Change
At the Pebbles Kitchen, Matthyzer works alongside chef Darren Bunker and three other assistants. Bunker, who trained in catering school during his military service, has been leading the kitchen since its inception six years ago. He finds joy in seeing the children’s smiles and the empty plates after meals.
Preparation for the next day’s meal is underway, with beef and bean stew, samp, and mushrooms being mixed. The storeroom is filled with neatly stacked items, including tins of peeled tomatoes, processed peas, sweetcorn, and baked beans. Large bags of spinach, butternuts, sweet potatoes, onions, and carrots line the shelves.
The kitchen also stocks StartWell chickpea and peanut multigrain breakfast cereal, a nutritious option for porridge. Children allergic to nuts receive Weet-Bix instead. On Fridays, they get eggs, baked beans, and toast. Mid-morning and afternoon snacks include fruit, yogurt, or other healthy options.
SA’s Stunting Crisis
Du Plooy references the Thrive by Five Index 2024, which highlights how poor nutrition affects early childhood development. According to the report, 68% of four-year-olds live below the upper bound poverty line, and 37% live below the food poverty line. Only 40% of children in early learning programs are developmentally on track, with 7% showing signs of moderate or severe stunting.
Stunting, caused by poor nutrition and repeated illness, can hinder growth and brain development. The index emphasizes the importance of health, nutrition, caregiving, safety, and early learning opportunities for optimal child development.
Government and Civil Society Efforts
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi reported that 155 children with acute malnutrition died in public health facilities in the first four months of 2025. While the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) provides meals to nine million learners, pre-schoolers lack similar support.
Civil society organizations like Pebbles continue to step up, aiming to increase meal output to 5,000 a day and acquire a second refrigerated truck. Du Plooy is also working on developing a lighter, more seasonal menu in collaboration with dietitian Smit.
