Kos For Nothing

By Leah Falcon

Whether it’s an all-night study session, date night, or pre-jol party – ordering in food makes any day better. Two of our own Stellenbosch students are making this coping mechanism more accessible for all students with the development of their app, StelliesKos.

Tsundzuka Mnisi (3^rd year BCom Management Accounting) and David Mwangi (4^th year BEng Data Engineering) created the app to connect food providers with students. Rumour has it that collaborators will include Neelsie favourites, CoCreate Hub, and local food entrepreneurs. Students can order food and have it delivered anywhere in the Stellenbosch region by e-bike. StelliesKos allows food providers to save on marketing and students to get significant discounts, with meals costing a maximum of R45.

But the Moshi Monster-esque icon masks a deeper humanitarian goal. Mwangi explains, “We want to make food that reminds people of home and to bring diversity to food and unite people in food. Hunger is a serious problem […] We have friends who have to scrape by for food. We could help where we could but imagine how many more students we can help with our platform so that no one has to go through that.” To achieve this, the platform will also connect students who need support with donations of free meals or other products from restaurants and external businesses.

StelliesKos has the potential to empower students and local businesses with an affordable, accessible platform that promotes healthy eating, reduces food insecurity, and strengthens the local economy.

Food insecurity is a subsisting problem around South Africa, and university spaces are not exempt. Studies by the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of the Free State show that food insecurity rates among university students range from 11% to 38%. Rising food prices, and delayed payments from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, compound this problem. The lack of affordable, safe and nutritious food threatens individual students’ studies, in addition to the fundamental human right to dignity. Food security is the cornerstone in building South Africa’s future of health and equality, making Mnisi and Mwangi’s venture all the more important.

With the beta launch of the StelliesKos app beginning, Mnisi and Mwangi invite you to download the app at the QR code below.

With their loveable mascot and mind-blowing deals, StelliesKos is sure to take Stellies by storm!