In an address at the 7th Annual Social Justice Summit in Cape Town, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the urgent need for collective action to address the intertwined issues of social justice, food security, and peace.

Hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the summit gathered a spectrum of stakeholders, from government ministers to representatives of civil society and academia, to discuss pathways towards equality and sustainability.

With the theme “Social Justice, Food Security and Peace: Pathways to Equality, Solidarity, Sustainability and Climate Resilience,” the summit comes at a pivotal time as South Africa gears towards its 2030 goals outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP).

“This year marks the start of a crucial countdown towards achieving the aspirations of the NDP,” Ramaphosa stated, reminding attendees that despite some progress, the nation is significantly off track in meeting fundamental social and economic goals.

The president highlighted that food insecurity remains a pressing challenge, exacerbated by various factors. Citing the recent General Household Survey, Ramaphosa pointed out that a significant portion of South Africa’s population still faces inadequate access to food, with severe acute malnutrition rising by approximately 26% over the past five years.

“Freedom from hunger is both a moral and developmental imperative,” he asserted, stressing that food is a universal right protected under the South African Constitution. He expressed pride in the fact that South Africa is among the few countries worldwide that explicitly guarantees the right to food and water, positioning it as a group of nations with a unique responsibility to implement these rights.

To combat hunger and improve food security, the South African government has initiated several policies and frameworks, such as the Integrated Food Security Strategy and the National School Nutrition Programme, which feeds over 9.7 million learners daily. The success of these initiatives, Ramaphosa claimed, reflects the country’s commitment to transforming its food systems.

He elaborated on a multifaceted approach the government is adopting to tackle these challenges, which includes enhancing legal frameworks and leveraging practical initiatives aimed at increasing the affordability and accessibility of nutritious food. The president highlighted the effectiveness of the social grant system, particularly the Social Relief of Distress grant introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly reduced food poverty in 2021.

Despite these efforts, Ramaphosa reiterated the need for urgent course correction to meet the targets set forth in both the NDP and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the summit proceeded, he urged participants to explore granular details of sustainable solutions, stressing that “the realisation of the right to food is not only a measure of policy success but a test of our collective conscience.”

The president concluded his address with a call for unity, advocating that achieving social justice is not possible in the presence of hunger. “I am encouraged by the global solidarity in our efforts to ensure universal food security,” he said, referencing partnerships that echo South Africa’s foundational values of Ubuntu. By working together across sectors, Ramaphosa remains steadfast in his belief that collective action can transform the fight against hunger into a reality for every South African.

IOL News 

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