Food and nutrition security in Cape Town’s vulnerable neighbourhoods presents a stark contrast between access and affordability within the city’s segregated food system. While privileged, predominantly white residents enjoy diverse food choices, a significant portion of the mostly black and coloured population faces limited access to nutritionally diverse and healthy food options due to economic constraints. Efforts by the City of Cape Town and numerous NGOs have often championed small-scale urban agriculture as a solution to address food insecurity. However, research indicates that urban agriculture’s impact on food security remains marginal, with 90% of farmers finding it financially unviable according to UFISAMO data. Despite this, urban agriculture does enhance diet diversity by supplementing staple foods with vegetables that are otherwise unaffordable. Furthermore, urban farming fosters community cohesion through activities like seed and crop sharing among city dwellers. To fully integrate urban agriculture into the local food system and empower producers, there is a critical need to rethink political strategies, particularly in facilitating independent market access for urban farmers. Currently, a significant portion of produce is sold in affluent, predominantly white markets, with farmers receiving only a small fraction of the profits due to intermediary roles dominating the value chain. Strengthening urban structures that directly connect consumers with producers could enhance community participation and ensure equitable distribution within the city’s food landscape.