Miles Kubheka

Miles Kubheka is reimagining food security and safety through a weigh-and-pay system that empowers local entrepreneurs and marginalized communities whilst simultaneously improving food safety standards in informal small businesses in townships. By looking at the food system in South Africa, he reduces food waste while increasing the availability of safe and healthy food for the community.

Gcwalisa’s breakthrough lies in its redefinition of the food security challenge: it recognizes that hunger in South Africa is not a consequence of insufficient food, but rather the result of systemic failures in distribution and access. In many low-income communities, food is available in the country but does not reach those who need it most, or is only available in fixed, unaffordable quantities. The term coined 'poverty tax' forces the poor to pay more for basic goods. Traditional charity models often sustain dependency without addressing the root causes. Gcwalisa confronts this reality head-on, shifting the focus from temporary relief to structural change by giving people the means to access food on their own terms.
A core element of this new idea is the transformation of food distribution itself. Gcwalisa’s 'weigh-and-pay' system disrupts the conventional retail model by allowing customers to buy exactly the amount of food they can afford, rather than being forced to purchase pre-packaged, larger, and more expensive units. This innovation tackles poverty tax, reduces packaging waste, and brings a new level of dignity and flexibility to everyday food purchasing for the ultra-poor.
But Gcwalisa’s impact goes far beyond food. The model is deeply rooted in community empowerment, especially for (mostly) women who have historically shouldered the burden of unpaid charity work. By transforming these women into paid micro-entrepreneurs who manage local Gcwalisa outlets, the initiative restores dignity, generates income, and builds local leadership. These outlets quickly evolve into essential community hubs, providing not only food but also clean energy through solar panels, water purification services, and access to health essentials such as chronic medication. This holistic, multi-service approach recognizes the interconnectedness of challenges faced in marginalized areas, ensuring that food security is addressed alongside energy access, clean water, and health, making the outlets anchors of resilience and opportunity.
Underlying the entire model is a sophisticated integration of technology and systems thinking. Gcwalisa’s digital platform manages inventory, provides ongoing training for micro-entrepreneurs, and democratizes food safety compliance through an innovative app that enables even the smallest informal retailers to meet high standards. The use of modular shipping containers as outlets means the model can be rapidly replicated and adapted to new communities or even countries, offering a credible path to scale.

By combining community ownership, advanced technology, and a flexible infrastructure, Gcwalisa positions itself not just as a response to hunger, but as a replicable template for systemic change, one with the potential to shift how societies everywhere address food insecurity, economic exclusion, and environmental sustainability.

South Africa is in the grip of a hunger crisis that is both vast in scale and deeply entrenched. More than 11.8 million people across the country live with the daily reality of food insecurity, unable to reliably access enough nutritious food to meet their basic needs. The most harrowing impact is seen among children: over 2.5 million suffer from stunting caused by chronic malnutrition, a condition that impairs cognitive development, increases vulnerability to disease, and diminishes the potential of individuals and communities for generations. Hunger in South Africa is not a distant or abstract issue. It is a lived reality that shapes bodies, minds, and futures every single day
This crisis is most acute in South Africa’s urban townships and rural areas, where poverty, inequality, and lack of infrastructure are pervasive. Townships, originally established under apartheid to segregate and marginalize Black South Africans, remain sites of concentrated deprivation. High unemployment, overcrowded housing, and limited access to basic services are common. The state of infrastructure is dire: electricity is unreliable due to chronic load shedding and reduction, water supply is often intermittent or unsafe, and hygienic facilities are lacking. These conditions create an environment where food insecurity is not just about access to calories, but about the daily struggle to secure safe, nutritious food in the face of constant scarcity and hardship.
The lack of stable electricity is a particularly acute problem. Load shedding or reduction - scheduled power outages to manage supply shortages disrupts every aspect of daily life in the townships. Without reliable power, food cannot be stored safely, refrigeration is impossible, and basic food preparation becomes a challenge. Inadequate power also means that water pumps and sanitation facilities often fail, compounding the risk of disease and making it even harder to maintain hygienic conditions. For families already living on the edge, these infrastructural deficits turn the act of feeding a household into a daily ordeal, with no guarantee that food will be safe to eat or even available at all.
Food safety has emerged as a deadly and urgent crisis within this context, especially in the informal retail sector that serves as the backbone of township food supply. Spaza shops, small, informal stores, are the primary source of food for millions, yet most operate without any meaningful regulation or oversight. There are no systematic inspections or food safety protocols, and quality control is virtually nonexistent. The consequences of this regulatory vacuum are devastating recently, 22 children died after consuming contaminated food purchased from local spaza shops. This tragedy underscores the lethal risks faced by the most vulnerable, and the urgent need to address food safety as an integral part of the hunger crisis.

The roots of South Africa’s hunger crisis are historical and structural, stretching back to the policies of apartheid that enforced spatial segregation and economic exclusion. Black South Africans were forced into underdeveloped townships and rural areas, systematically denied access to quality infrastructure, education, and economic opportunities. These policies created generational cycles of poverty and exclusion, leaving communities under-resourced and vulnerable. Even after the formal end of apartheid, these structural inequalities have proved remarkably resilient, continuing to shape who has access to food, opportunity, and security.
Economic barriers further compound the problem, reinforcing and deepening cycles of hunger and deprivation. In many low-income communities, families are subject to a ‘poverty tax’: they pay inflated prices for basic goods, including food, due to logistical inefficiencies, limited competition, and exploitative market practices. Because incomes are low, irregular, or grant-dependent, households are unable to buy in bulk and are instead forced to purchase small quantities at higher unit prices. Large retailers dominate the market and often dictate terms for both consumers and small-scale producers, while weak distribution networks further entrench this imbalance. As a result, families spend a disproportionate share of their income on food, not by choice but by design, systematically locking the majority out of affordable, healthy nutrition while concentrating value in the hands of a few.
Attempts to address these issues through traditional charity models and fragmented interventions have largely failed. Providing food aid, while vital in emergencies, can inadvertently sustain the very problems it seeks to solve by fostering dependency and failing to address underlying causes. Piecemeal solutions rarely tackle the interconnected barriers that perpetuate hunger, poverty, and exclusion. What is needed is a fundamentally different approach. One that dismantles structural obstacles, restores agency and dignity to communities, and especially empowers women, who have long borne the brunt of hunger and poverty in South Africa. Only by addressing these root causes and enabling systemic change can the cycles of deprivation be broken and a future free from hunger be realized.

The origins of Gcwalisa’s strategy are deeply rooted in a recognition that hunger in South Africa is not simply about food scarcity, but about the persistent and interconnected failures of the country’s food system. Years of working on the ground through the Wakanda Accelerator revealed how fragmented supply chains, unreliable infrastructure, and cycles of dependency perpetuated deprivation in townships and rural areas. It became clear that traditional charity models, however well-intentioned, often reinforced these cycles rather than breaking them. The insight that food security cannot be separated from energy, water, and health became foundational. This holistic understanding sets the stage for an approach that would not just alleviate symptoms but tackle the root causes with a systems mindset.

At the heart of Gcwalisa’s market recalibration is the weigh-and-pay retail system. In contrast to conventional models that force customers to buy fixed, oftentimes, unaffordable quantities, Gcwalisa’s outlets allow people to purchase exactly the amount of staple foods they can afford. By sourcing goods in bulk and enabling flexible transactions, the system directly undermines the so-called poverty tax, which has historically forced the poorest families to pay the highest prices for basic goods. The approach also reduces packaging waste, lowering both costs and environmental impact. This model reframes low-income consumers not as passive recipients of charity, but as active market participants with agency and aspirations - a crucial psychological and social shift.

A defining feature of Gcwalisa’s strategy is the empowerment of women and the restoration of community agency. In many townships, women have long been the backbone of informal charity, distributing food and support without pay or recognition. Gcwalisa deliberately invests in training these women as paid micro-entrepreneurs who manage and operate local outlets. This transition from dependency to agency is more than a change in job description; it is a transformation of social roles and dignity. These operators quickly become catalysts for further community development, initiating projects such as building community toilets, organizing neighborhood safety initiatives, and supporting local health campaigns. Their work fosters a sense of pride, ownership, and possibility that ripples through the community.

Central to the strategy’s success is the Wakanda Accelerator, which serves as both a pipeline and a training hub for food entrepreneurs and Gcwalisa operators. The accelerator offers tailored training, mentorship, and access to state-of-the-art shared kitchen facilities, dramatically lowering the barriers to entry for aspiring and existing foodpreneurs. These kitchens, located in accessible urban centers, allow entrepreneurs to produce food in compliant, well-equipped environments without the burden of significant upfront capital. The accelerator focuses on ventures with demonstrated potential, often recruiting participants through referrals or targeted corporate and government programs. This ensures a steady pipeline of high-quality products and skilled operators for the Gcwalisa network, reinforcing the ecosystem’s resilience from the ground up.

Technology is a linchpin in Gcwalisa’s strategy, particularly through the Sphazamisa app, which serves as the digital backbone of the entire system. The app democratizes food safety compliance by enabling even the smallest informal retailers and spaza shop owners to conduct self-assessments using their mobile phones. Operators can walk through their shops, upload photos of their storage areas and food products, and receive real-time feedback on health and safety protocols. The app generates a compliance score and directs users to tailored training modules that guide them step-by-step toward meeting rigorous food safety standards. This not only addresses a major public health barrier but also ensures operational consistency and quality as the model scales to thousands of outlets. The app further supports inventory management, knowledge sharing, and process standardization, making it an essential tool for replication and quality control.

Gcwalisa’s physical infrastructure is designed for adaptability, rapid deployment, and multifunctionality. Outlets are constructed from modular shipping containers that can be easily transported and installed in diverse contexts, from dense urban townships to remote rural villages or even across borders. Many of these units are powered by solar energy, reducing dependence on unreliable municipal electricity and lowering operational costs. Beyond food retail, these hubs often provide water purification services, distribute chronic medication, and offer access to clean energy, addressing the intertwined challenges of energy, health, and environment. By serving as multifunctional community anchors, Gcwalisa outlets become backbones of local infrastructure and resilience, capable of responding flexibly to evolving community needs.

The organizational and economic structure underpinning Wakanda and Gcwalisa is meticulously designed for sustainability and accessibility. Multiple revenue streams, including rental fees for shared kitchens, service fees for accelerator participation, and transaction fees on the Gcwalisa platform are complemented by partnerships with local governments, NGOs, and private sector actors. External funding from impact investors and philanthropic foundations subsidizes costs for entrepreneurs and ensures that food remains affordable for consumers. This structure creates value for all stakeholders, fosters local entrepreneurship, and reduces dependency on external aid, laying the groundwork for long-term viability and scale.

The scale and impact of this strategy are evident in the tangible outputs and outcomes achieved to date. Over 1,000 entrepreneurs have participated in the Wakanda Accelerator, with 600 engaging in annual programs. More than 150 aspiring food entrepreneurs have accessed shared kitchen facilities, and 40 small food businesses have been launched and supported through the accelerator. The Gcwalisa platform now provides affordable food to over 5,000 community members each month. Surveys indicate that 70% of users report improved food security and lower monthly expenses, while 80% of businesses supported by the accelerator remain operational after 18 months, well above sector averages. Each entrepreneur utilizing shared kitchens typically creates two to three new jobs, the majority of which are filled by women. Miles also serves as a board member of SA Harvest, which has distributed over 80 million free meals to communities in need by rescuing nutritious food from retailers that would have gone to a landfill and delivering it to where it is needed most These numbers reflect real shifts in opportunity, agency, and quality of life for some of South Africa’s most marginalized populations.

The influence of women running Gcwalisa outlets extends far beyond the boundaries of food retail. These operators are not only earning incomes and gaining skills but are also spearheading community initiatives that address local needs. For example, in several townships, women have organized the construction of community toilets where none previously existed, improving sanitation and public health. Others have led efforts to install solar-powered streetlights, enhancing neighborhood safety and enabling extended trading hours. These women have become visible role models, inspiring others to take initiative and reinforcing the ethic of local ownership and problem-solving that is central to Gcwalisa’s vision.


Looking to the future, Gcwalisa is poised for ambitious scaling and deeper systemic change. Plans are well underway to roll out the food safety app to 20,000 spaza shops in Gauteng, in partnership with local and international agencies namely the United Nations Development Programme and the City of Johannesburg. By equipping thousands of informal retailers with digital tools and capacity-building support, the organization aims to raise operational standards and improve access to safe, affordable food on an unprecedented scale. The modular design of outlets and the robust digital backbone make rapid replication feasible without sacrificing coherence or impact. Ultimately, the vision is to catalyze a network of self-reliant, self-governing communities that manage their own food systems, set their own standards, and serve as practical case studies for government and civil society. As the model spreads, the hope is that learned helplessness will give way to a new era of agency, dignity, and collective prosperity. One community at a time.

Miles Kubheka’s journey is rooted in the vibrant yet challenging landscape of Soweto, where he was raised by a single mother whose own life was shaped by unyielding resilience and a refusal to accept the status quo. Family stories, especially those of his entrepreneurial grandfather, who journeyed from eSwatini to South Africa by bicycle and built a legacy from nothing - were more than just tales; they were daily reminders that agency and initiative are essential, even in the face of overwhelming systemic barriers. His mother’s own acts of courage during the apartheid era, including her escape from police custody when others remained paralyzed by fear, instilled in Miles an early understanding of learned helplessness and the importance of seizing opportunities to create change. These lived experiences cultivated in him a deep sense of responsibility - not just for his own advancement, but for the wellbeing of his community.

This sense of agency was further tested and shaped by Miles’s educational journey, which saw him transition from township schools to a multiracial private school at the height of apartheid. As the only Black child in his class, he confronted language barriers, social isolation, and long daily commutes. The experience of waking at 4am to learn English, struggling to access resources, and navigating exclusion forced him to adapt quickly and build resilience. Support from empathetic teachers who lent him library books and provided places to stay for school events played a pivotal role in his development. Public speaking became a turning point, as the encouragement and coaching he received helped him gain confidence and learn to articulate his ideas across divides. These early experiences of ‘code-switching’ between different worlds deepened his empathy for others facing exclusion and would later inform his vision for building inclusive platforms.

Miles’s entrepreneurial journey was marked by creativity, risk-taking, and a willingness to learn from setbacks. Early exposure to technology, thanks to a computer his brother brought home, sparked a passion that led him to study Information Systems and pursue a career at Microsoft, secured through unconventional tactics like coding an automated CV delivery system and crafting a personalized job proposal. After several years in the corporate world, he co-founded a systems engineering business and later entered the food industry with Vuyo’s, a venture inspired by a fictional character he trademarked. Each step in his career reflected a pattern of crossing boundaries, blending creativity with practical problem-solving, and a drive to address systemic barriers he recognized from his own life.

The culmination of these experiences is evident in Miles’s commitment to empowerment and systems change through the Wakanda Accelerator and Gcwalisa. Recognizing that the challenges he faced as an entrepreneur were shared by many, he set out to build platforms that break down silos and foster collaboration. His ventures prioritize training and supporting entrepreneurs - especially women who have long shouldered the burden of informal charity, transforming them into paid micro-entrepreneurs and community leaders. With over 1,000 entrepreneurs trained and a platform that integrates food, energy, and health, Miles’s work is a testament to his creativity, ethical commitment, and vision for systemic impact.
While his leadership is marked by a restless drive for new ideas, he continues to refine his focus and build strong teams to ensure that his vision can scale and endure.