A South African entrepreneur has launched a digital food pantry platform aimed at improving household food security, as the country grapples with rising hunger and economic pressure.
The platform, FOOBA — short for Food Bank — allows users to open a personal digital pantry from as little as R5, with the ability to load up to R5,000 per account and share access with up to four family members.
The initiative was inspired by a tragic incident in Tholeni, where a mother, facing extreme hardship, took the lives of her children and herself. The founder, Meshi Qwelane, said the event became a catalyst for action. “The Tholeni incident was the defining moment that brought FOOBA to life. No mother should ever feel so trapped that ending it all seems like the only option. FOOBA is my answer to that moment — a digital pantry that ensures food is never out of reach, even on the hardest days,” he said.
FOOBA is designed to offer a structured and accessible approach to food budgeting and support. Users can allocate funds into a pantry with a 45-day redemption window, while also benefiting from built-in budgeting tools. The platform also enables direct connections between donors and households, creating a transparent channel for food assistance.
The launch comes amid growing concern over the misuse of social grants, particularly as gambling activity among some recipients continues to rise. The platform aims to address this by ring-fencing funds specifically for food purchases, preventing diversion to non-essential spending. Qwelane said this mechanism is intended to protect vulnerable households. “SASSA grants are a lifeline. But a lifeline only works if it reaches the people who need it most. FOOBA helps ensure that food money stays food money.”
South Africa continues to face high levels of food insecurity, driven by unemployment, inequality and rising living costs. Data from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group indicates that the average household food basket reached R5,383.81 as of February 2026, placing increasing pressure on low-income households.
FOOBA will integrate this data into its platform, allowing users to track food price inflation and make more informed budgeting decisions. The inclusion of real-time cost insights is expected to improve financial planning for households navigating fluctuating prices.
The platform’s pilot phase will begin in Soweto, in partnership with retailer Devland. Through its network of more than 30 stores, users will be able to open, fund and redeem their digital pantries within familiar retail environments.
FOOBA is currently available in its initial version on the Google Play Store, with a broader rollout expected following the pilot phase. The platform is open to households, donors, and potential partners, including corporates and non-governmental organisations, as it seeks to scale its model nationally.