Real Life Stories of Impoverished Communities

There are various communities in South Africa that suffer from malnutrition, caused by a range of socio-economic issues. Every day, people are making unhealthy food choices that have a negative impact on the body and mind, particularly that of young children. 

©Andile Bhala
Impoverished communities often rely on street vendors for healthy food options.

In an effort to uncover the reasoning behind this, science writer Leonie Joubert chatted to a number of people from different communities in the country about their choices regarding food, health, facing adversity and the painful reality of poverty.

Real Life Story: Born on the Wrong Side of the Tracks

Leonie Joubert paints a picture of Malaykamp, the section of De Aar rife with poverty and alcoholism. It is here where she looked into the l...more

Real Life Story: Culture and Family Influence on Health

As an occupational therapist with many years served in the mental health field before moving into academics, Julie Lingah can see where the ...more

Real Life Story: Day in the Life of an Informal Settler

It is Saturday morning, and Cornelia has used an opportunity to hitch a ride to a nearby shopping centre on the roadside near Wonderboom whe...more

Real Life Story: Growing Up in Chatsworth

On Julie Lingah’s fourth birthday, she thought her mother was being murdered. Outside, the sky hissed, popped and boomed with Diwali firew...more

Real Life Story: Tea at Winnie's

The following is the story of Winnie Maneli, a Xhosa mother who saw the growing of her family from poverty to success. A seasoned cook, she ...more