A fruit tree heavy with ripe fruit standing among rows of vines under an open sky

South African non-profit · Food security

Growing food. Growing hope. Growing Mzansi.

We donate fruit trees to townships, schools and parks — then teach communities how to care for them — so families can pick fresh food from their own streets.

Sihlanyela. Kuyakhula. Niyondla. · Ons plant. Dit groei. Jy voed. · Nous plantons. Ça pousse. Vous nourrissez.

Tap a fruit to see why we plant it.

No cost to communities Fruit trees are donated. We ask only for a promise to care for them.
Where people already gather Townships, school grounds and parks — food growing on the street.
Skills, not a once-off Locals learn to plant, water, prune and harvest year after year.
Fruit that feeds Apples, oranges, peaches and avocados for families facing hunger.

Based in Roodepoort, Gauteng. Operated by Mncube Consulting and Investment (Pty) Ltd, 2019/411071/07. Money is received in Absa 4122791088 only.

Who we are

Plant Mzansi is a movement towards a sustainable future where communities can thrive.

Plant Mzansi is a South African non-profit. We donate fruit trees to townships, schools and parks, and we teach people to care for them — so families can pick fresh food from their own streets.

We do not expect anything in return except a commitment to nurture the trees. We are based in Roodepoort, Gauteng. If you are unsure whether we plant in your area, write to us — we will tell you honestly.

Plant Fruit trees where people live, learn and gather
Educate Skills to grow, care for and harvest with pride
Nourish Fresh fruit for families facing hunger
A school learner holding freshly picked green avocados beside a fruit tree
Youth, schools and home gardens are at the heart of the work.

Mission

Plant fruit trees. Teach people to keep them alive.

Our mission is twofold: to plant fruit-bearing trees throughout townships so communities have access to nutritious food, and to educate locals in how to plant and care for those trees — fostering stewardship of the environment.

Vision

Thriving townships with food growing on the street.

We envision communities with lasting access to fresh fruit, less hunger, and a culture of environmental care — where people actively nurture trees and help grow a greener, healthier South Africa.

What we do

Four roots of the work

Every donation funds trees, training and the long game of food security — not a once-off giveaway.

Tree donation

We provide fruit trees to communities, schools and parks at no cost, so nutritious food is planted where people already live and learn.

Community education

We teach people how to plant, water, prune and protect trees — practical skills that keep the harvest coming year after year.

Food security

Apples, oranges, peaches and avocados become long-term food sources that help combat hunger in township communities.

Environmental care

Planting and maintaining trees helps communities understand their impact and contribute to a greener, healthier South Africa.

How it works

We bring the trees. Communities bring the care.

Plant Mzansi donates fruit trees at no cost. In return we ask only for a commitment to nurture them so they grow strong and productive. That is how food security becomes a community practice, not a charity parcel.

  1. 01

    Partner

    Schools, municipalities and households with space join the initiative.

  2. 02

    Plant

    Fruit trees are donated and planted with hands-on guidance.

  3. 03

    Nurture

    Locals learn to care for the trees until they bear fruit for the community.

A woman and a child planting a young tree together Hands pressing soil around a young sapling

A tree’s life

From a hole in the soil to fruit on the street.

This is the work, in four pictures. No drop-off. A promise that has to be kept.

01 · The promise A sapling is only a start. Hands in the soil make it a living food source.
02 · The tree takes Care after planting day is what turns a hole in the soil into a harvest.
03 · Fruit comes A living tree is the classroom — how to water, prune and wait for food on the branch.
04 · The street eats The harvest belongs to the community that kept the tree alive.

Founder and team

Meet the Plant Mzansi team

The people who plant, teach and keep the trees alive.

Mlondolozi Mncube, founder of Plant Mzansi

Founder

Mlondolozi Mncube

Born in Soweto · Diploma in Mechanical Engineering

Mlondolozi saw how South Africans were living — and starving. He founded Plant Mzansi to help eliminate hunger by empowering people through nature.

The idea is not to make money. It is to feed the next person, and generations to come, without greed or profit.

Prince Mncube, landscape architect at Plant Mzansi

Prince Mncube

Landscape Architect

With over 15 years of experience, Prince leads the design work, shaping planting spaces that communities can grow and harvest from.

Tiisetso Mncube, horticulturist at Plant Mzansi

Tiisetso Mncube

Horticulturist

Tiisetso’s expertise in plant care helps trees take root and stay healthy — from nursery to township street.

Thabo Tau, maintenance manager at Plant Mzansi

Thabo Tau

Maintenance Manager

Thabo oversees care after planting day, so orchards stay in good condition and keep feeding families.

Care for your tree

The harvest depends on what happens after planting day.

We teach this on the ground. Keep this page handy for watering, frost and the first years of growth.

Plant with room

Choose a sunny spot with space for roots and canopy. Dig a hole wider than the bag, loosen the sides, and water in well on the day you plant.

Water deeply

A slow, deep soak beats a daily sprinkle. Mulch around the base — not against the stem — to hold moisture through dry Highveld weeks.

Protect the young tree

Guard against frost, wind, goats and stray soccer balls. A simple stake and wrap in the first winters can save the tree.

Wait for fruit

Most fruit trees need a few seasons before a full crop. Prune lightly, watch for pests, and share the first harvest with the street that kept it alive.

This season on the Highveld

Tap a season. We highlight the current one for Gauteng.

Choose a season to see what the tree needs now.

Your tree

Which fruit tree fits your yard?

Answer three questions. We will suggest an apple, orange, peach or avocado — then you can ask us for a tree.

1. Where will it grow?
2. How much sun?
3. How much space?

Where we plant

Based in Roodepoort. Planting where people already gather.

Our office is in Constantia Kloof, Roodepoort. The work happens in townships, on school grounds and in parks. Tell us your area — we will say honestly whether we can plant there now.

  • Townships Fruit on the street, not only in a shop.
  • Schools Learners plant, water and one day pick.
  • Parks Public land that feeds the people who use it.
Ask about your area
South Africa, with Plant Mzansi based in Gauteng Gauteng Roodepoort

The orange pin is home base. The rest of the country is an invitation — write to us.

Get involved

There is a place for you in this work

Choose how you want to help. We will take you to the right next step.

After you apply we aim to reply on WhatsApp within two working days. Tell us your area and, for a tree, how much sun and space you have — we will say honestly whether we can plant there now.

Fund a tree

As a non-governmental, non-profit organisation we rely on donors and entrepreneurs who fund planting and maintenance in townships.

Give money →

Give plants or seeds

Donate a pack of seeds or a plant. This is separate from money. We will arrange collection or drop-off.

Offer plants or seeds →

School or municipality

Partner with us to plant on school grounds, parks and public land — and bring learners into the care of the trees.

Request a partnership →

Households

If you have yard space, you can plant a donated fruit tree and commit to looking after it for your street.

Ask for a tree →

Volunteer

Join a planting day, help with training, or share the word in your network. Extra hands make the orchard grow.

Offer your time →

FAQ

Questions people ask before they plant or give.

Do communities pay for the trees?

No. Trees are donated at no cost. We ask only for a genuine commitment to water, protect and care for them so they can bear fruit.

Which fruit trees do you plant?

We focus on apples, oranges, peaches and avocados — trees that can become a lasting food source where people live, learn and gather.

Can my school or municipality partner with you?

Yes. We plant on school grounds, parks and public land, and we involve learners in the care of the trees. Use Get involved and choose “Partner as a school or municipality”.

Can a household request a tree?

If you have yard space and will look after the tree for your street, you can ask for a donated fruit tree. Tell us your area and how much sun and space you have.

Do you plant in my area?

We are based in Roodepoort, Gauteng, and work in townships, schools and parks. Contact us with your location and we will tell you whether we can help now or add you to a future planting.

How do I donate?

Give money from R20 with Paystack. The money goes to Absa 4122791088 only, in the name of Mncube Consulting and Investment (Pty) Ltd, which operates Plant Mzansi. Or open EFT and send Instant EFT or PayShap in your banking app, then tell us on WhatsApp. To donate a pack of seeds or a plant, use Donate a plant or seeds.

Why is the bank account not named Plant Mzansi?

Plant Mzansi is operated by Mncube Consulting and Investment (Pty) Ltd, company 2019/411071/07. Donations are received only in that Absa current account, 4122791088, branch 632005.

Do you issue a Section 18A tax certificate?

We can send a donation acknowledgement. If you need a Section 18A certificate, write to us and we will tell you what we can issue — we will not claim a certificate we cannot give.

How long until a tree bears fruit?

Most fruit trees need a few seasons before a full harvest. That is why the care training matters as much as the planting day.

Contact

Let’s grow something together.

WhatsApp is usually the fastest way to reach us. The form sends your message to us, and can also open WhatsApp if you prefer to chat.

After you write

  1. We aim to reply within two working days.
  2. Drop-off of plants or seeds is by arrangement at the Roodepoort office.
  3. For a household tree, tell us your area, sun and space so we can answer honestly.

We use your details only to reply about Plant Mzansi. We do not sell them. This is in line with South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). Read our privacy note.