A Cape Town nonprofit that fed 340 schoolchildren daily for nine years has shut down following a dispute with the school's governing body over rent. The Breakfast Club, operating since 2016, was evicted after refusing to pay for its food preparation space. The move has left learners without meals during exam time, raising concerns about hunger and disruption.
The Breakfast Club began in 2016, founded by Patsy Bagraim to address hunger affecting children's concentration at Good Hope Seminary Junior School in Cape Town. For nine years, it delivered about 66,000 meals annually at a cost of R440,000, funded entirely by donations from individuals, companies, and charities. Volunteers prepared nutritious breakfasts—warm e’Pap fortified with vitamins and minerals, mixed with full cream milk and served with fruit—in an unused classroom lacking running water. About 75% of the school's 340 learners participated voluntarily, as many traveled long distances and arrived hungry after hours without food.
Tensions arose in July 2025 during a hostile meeting with the school governing body (SGB), which demanded rent for the space. Mandy Trollip, a trustee, described the encounters as confrontational, with the SGB accusing the nonprofit of using the school's name for fundraising and treating the area like a commercial venue. In August, the acting principal indicated operations could continue rent-free, prompting the club to propose a contract covering maintenance and access, sent on 27 August and 12 September but never signed.
By October, the SGB reversed course, again requiring payment, which the club declined, prioritizing funds for meals over rent. On 14 November, a letter signed by SGB representative Toufeeqah Cambell and acting principal Dean Van Jaarsveld ordered an immediate halt to programs and removal of equipment by 21 November, citing failed engagement on compliance and rental, plus a breakdown in trust from an unsigned memorandum of understanding. The decision stemmed from a 13 November meeting with parents and staff.
The timing, just before exams and term end, worried Trollip: “We are concerned that the children will not only be hungry, but will also be confused and upset by the sudden change.” A child asked her, “Why have you stopped feeding me? I’m hungry,” an image that lingers. The school notified parents via WhatsApp to provide extra snacks from 17 November. Post-eviction, the club donated milk to Heartlands Baby Sanctuary and stored other supplies.
Daily Maverick's inquiries to the school went unanswered, despite requests for details on motivations, other factors, meal confirmations, funding, alternatives, and parent feedback. The Western Cape Education Department called the outcome “regrettable,” noting the club's benefits, but the SGB remains firm while exploring nutrition alternatives, per spokesperson Millicent Merton.