Prof. Ryk Lues, Chair of the CUT Research Leadership Chair, Ms. M Semenyane, participant of 'Tshireletso ka Thuto', Mrs. Sally Joubert, CUT Work Integrated Learning Co-Ordinator and Ms. N Moroka, Mangaung Metro Municipality representative at the 'Tshireletso ka Thuto' food safety campaign launch.

In a bold step towards improving public health and economic resilience, the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), in partnership with the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA), officially launched the ‘Tshireletso Ka Thuto’ food safety campaign. The event marked the beginning of a transformative initiative aimed at revolutionising food safety standards and practices among food handlers and informal food vendors across the Free State to reduce the risk of contamination and foodborne illnesses. Through targeted training and education, ‘Tshireletso Ka Thuto’ seeks to uplift local communities and contribute to public health improvement in the region.

Tshireletso Ka Thuto, meaning “Protection Through Education,” is a community-driven campaign rooted in the belief that accessible education is key to reducing health risks associated with unsafe food handling. Led by CUT’s Research Leadership Chair in Food Safety and Sustainability, Prof. Ryk Lues, the programme is scheduled to run until 2026, with the goal of training over 2,000 participants, including street food vendors, spaza shop owners, and small-scale food processors.

“There’s a lack of safety and quality in the informal food sector, not necessarily in the food itself, but in the knowledge and regulatory support surrounding it,” said Prof. Lues.

The initiative was partly inspired by the tragic deaths of approximately 30 schoolchildren in Gauteng’s Lesedi District in 2024, believed to be caused by cross-contamination involving toxic substances in improperly cleaned containers.

The campaign adopts a two-pronged approach: Raising awareness among consumers, especially schoolchildren and adults, about food safety risks as well as training and empowering informal food suppliers to understand and apply hygiene regulations and safe food handling practices in a practical, sustainable way.

Through a combination of theoretical instruction, hands-on learning, and ongoing support, the programme reaches deep into communities such as Botshabelo, Thaba-Nchu, Clarens, Welkom, and Ficksburg where informal food trade is a vital part of daily life and local economies.

Supported by local municipalities, health professionals, NGOs, and CUT’s internal structures, Tshireletso Ka Thuto reflects the university’s broader mission of community engagement and inclusive development. As the campaign gains momentum, it stands as a national model for how higher education can drive real-world change, one clean bowl at a time.

Uploaded: 29 July 2025