Despite South Africa being food secure at a national level, household food security remains a challenge, with increasing food security rates. 

This is according to the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (Seri) report, which revealed that 23.1% of South African households experienced inadequate or severely inadequate access to food. 

The report titled Food for Thought: Reflections on Food Insecurity, aims to better understand how vulnerable communities in the country experience hunger and food insecurity, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The report shows that these issues preceded the Covid-19 pandemic but have been exacerbated by the economic fallout of the pandemic and have continued to persist thereafter.

The outcomes of the report come from interviews Seri conducted with partner organisations representing informal workers, recyclers, domestic workers and residents in informal settlements.

 The report also shines some light on the intersecting relations of exploitation and oppression that shape marginalised people’s experiences in the food system.

Seri also made a submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food. 

This submission was based on the report. 

The report stated that 69% of adults who are obese live in households that are food insecure and have little information about the food they eat and its nutritional value.

It added that high rates of stunting are evident in children five years and younger with 30% of boys and 25% of girls in this age bracket being stunted.

The report stated that these high levels of food insecurity persist despite South Africa producing enough food to feed the population.

“In addition, it is estimated that 10 million tonnes of food are wasted annually in South Africa, which constitutes about one-third of all available food (of the 31 million tonnes produced). It has been estimated that food waste costs South Africa R61.5 billion per annum, which translates to 2.1% of the annual gross domestic product (GDP).

Three-quarters of food losses (76% or 8.4 million tonnes) take place before food reaches wholesalers, retailers and consumers, while these entities and individuals are responsible for the remaining 24% (or 2.7 million tonnes) of food wasted,” read the report. 

Seri recommended the drafting of national framework legislation in relation to the right to food in South Africa (e.g. a Food and Nutrition Security Act) in line with the recommendations under General Comment 12, as well as South Africa’s National Policy on Food and Nutrition Security. 

The organisation said this would set out the roles and responsibilities of the different actors in relation to food security in South Africa, including an inter-departmental body with oversight responsibility. 

It has also been recommended that the government and large retailers should investigate and consider implementing the ten budget-friendly food items initiative that presents a double discount on a selection of food items that are protein-rich.

The government has also been requested to implement the universal basic income grant and acknowledge food system workers, for example, farm workers and informal traders, and ensure and monitor that they have fair and safe working conditions, and receive living wages. 

Seri said the General Household Survey (GHS) shows how the percentage of households that reported that they had limited access to food decreased from 23.6% in 2010 to 17.8% in 2019, only to climb again to pre-pandemic levels at 23.1% in 2023, adding that food insecurity is therefore a daily reality for many South African households.

The report added that South Africa is also faced with a triple burden of malnutrition – undernutrition, overnutrition (obesity) and macro-nutrient deficiency. 

“This has substantial implications for the public health system as malnutrition has been linked to the rise in non-communicable diseases in South Africa, including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, certain types of cancer and mental health disorders.  In fact, in 2015 five of the leading causes of death in South Africa were linked to nutrition.”

Low wages, rising food prices, and structural inequalities leave many unable to afford nutritious meals. This not only affects the unemployed but also working-class families earning minimum wage, the report added. 

manyane.manyane@inl.co.za

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