Healthy Joburg Bread in the oven near you

15 July 2016

 

Johannesburg Executive Mayor Cllr Parks Tau officially launched Joburg Bread at the Pimville Skills Centre in Soweto on Thursday July 14.

 

Made from mango flour and orange leaves, among other key ingredients, Joburg Bread is, according to Mayor Tau, the tastiest, most nutritious and, most importantly, the healthiest choice in town, with no salt and sugar – and costing in the region of R7.50 a loaf.

And what's more, it is also offered in several other varieties – burger buns, bread rolls, cheese bread, muffins and French loaf.

“We can deliver all the things that we’re supposed to deliver but there's no better delivery than the one that will add 10 more years to your life. This is delivery at its best,” said Mayor Tau.

The launch of the Joburg bread was a culmination of a journey that started in 2011 when Mayor Tau took over as Executive Mayor and engaged various communities to establish the challenges they were faced with and how best to address them. Some of the challenges identified during these interactions included high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

“I tasked Members of the Mayoral Committee to come up with a healthy alternative to regular bread and that’s exactly what Joburg Bread is all about,” said Mayor Tau.

Also in attendance at the launch was Cindy Simelane, winner of Season 2 of the Healthy Kota Competition.

“It’s good to have her involved in the making of the bread,” said Mayor Tau.

He said plans were afoot to bring bakeries across the City’s seven regions on board and to supply hospitals with Jozi Bread.

“A healthy and nutritious loaf of Joburg bread will only cost you R7.50. What excites me most is that we're able to give people a longer and healthy life,” said Mayor Tau.

Over and above this, the City has introduced healthy eating programmes in schools through its partnership with Discovery.

“We want our kids to grow up being conscious of what they put in their mouths. What kids eat determines their mental and physical development,” said Mayor Tau.

He said the City was taking a stand against obesity and unhealthy lifestyles.

“I brought my wife here today so she can see which bread is allowed in our house, starting from today,” he quipped.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development Cllr Nonceba Molwele said it was an exciting time for Johannesburg residents.

“We’re working hard to ensure that residents eat healthy and keep fit by using outdoor gyms in their communities," said MMC Molwele.