News24 | The Greatest Gatsby: Cape Town youth craft mammoth 5.7m sub to feed the streets

Last weekend’s initiative, led by more than 30 young people, alongside ministers and parents, transformed the church building into a hive of joyful energy.

• About 30 young people gathered at a Hanover Park church to craft a 5.7m-long gatsby to feed people in the area.
• The youths paid for the ingredients themselves and led the charge after being inspired by an event at Green Point Park.
• The initiative was aimed at building community and keeping young people away from a life of crime.

In a heartwarming display of unity, faith and flavour, young people from the Hanover Park congregation of the New Apostolic Church rolled up their sleeves last Friday to build a mammoth 5.7m gatsby from scratch.

A gatsby is a large, South African submarine sandwich, typically sold as a foot-long roll cut into four portions at take-away restaurants, particularly in the Western Cape. It is filled with a protein, usually polony or viennas, and packed with chips, colloquially known as “double carbing”.

Last weekend’s initiative, led by more than 30 young people, alongside ministers and parents, transformed the church building into a hive of joyful energy as potatoes were sliced, chips fried, rolls prepared and toppings layered with care. There was singing galore as the food was joyfully prepared.

The result? A delicious, community-sized gatsby – made with love, warmth and the kind of purpose that keeps young people inspired and off the streets, even if just for a few powerful hours.

“The goal is always to keep our young people active and engaged,” said Keagan Daries, spokesperson for the New Apostolic Church South Africa.

“The young people leadership continuously explores new initiatives to encourage participation, unity and spiritual growth.”

Inspired by a weekend of faith

The idea was sparked by the spirit experienced during a “Young People weekend” from 13 to 15 February – from an uplifting gathering at Green Point Park to a service in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain.

“This initiative was inspired by the beautiful spirit experienced during that weekend,” Daries said.

Under the slogan, “We shall remain united… in doing good”, the young people embodied exactly that.

Self-funded, youth-led

The event was entirely self-funded by the young people and parents of the Hanover Park church.

Congregants donated almost all the ingredients, while the youth themselves brought essentials such as oil, potatoes, fryers and a variety of toppings, including the famous red viennas added to gatsbies at fisheries.

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From frying chips and cleaning utensils to slicing bread rolls and carefully spreading fillings, everyone had a role to play.

“They were actively involved from the beginning of the project, taking responsibility for preparing the rolls and the delicious fillings,” Daries said.

“There was a strong spirit of teamwork and togetherness. The young people were fully engaged and took complete ownership of the project.”

Despite the daily challenges faced in Hanover Park, the evening unfolded seamlessly.

“We planned carefully around the usual bottlenecks in the area. There were no immediate challenges, and everything worked out according to plan,” Daries added.

More than just a meal

Once assembled, the massive gatsby was shared among the young people, invited friends from outside the congregation, and some surrounding neighbours – extending the spirit of generosity beyond the church walls. This all while drinking ice-cold, gassy cooldrinks – a perfect way to down the greasy goodness.

Out of respect and sensitivity, no photographs were taken during the distribution, Daries said.

“We felt it was not appropriate. The focus was on fellowship and sharing, not publicity.”

Daries described the atmosphere throughout the evening as joyful, energetic and filled with excitement – a safe, uplifting alternative for young people on a Friday night.

“The initiative aimed to keep our young people engaged, united and off the streets – choosing instead to spend their time in safe, uplifting fellowship with one another,” he said.

Looking ahead

For now, the focus remains on strengthening and nurturing young people within the congregation – showing them that their futures are filled with opportunity, purpose and hope.

According to Daries, plans are to have similar initiatives across different sectors of the area.

Still, the message from Hanover Park is loud and clear: when young people are given purpose, guidance and a platform to shine, they can create something truly extraordinary – this time it was 5.7m long and packed with flavour.

And in a community often defined by its challenges, this was a reminder that unity, faith and a simple shared meal can build something far greater than a sandwich.

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