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President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for urgent collaboration between government, business, and civil society to address South Africa\u2019s worsening food insecurity.<\/p>\n
In his weekly letter to the nation, he said the fight against hunger is a critical test of the country\u2019s democratic progress.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa revealed that between 15 and 16 million South Africans currently face inadequate or severely inadequate access to food, despite the constitutional right to food and water.<\/p>\n
He emphasised that South Africa is one of only 29 countries where this right is enshrined in the Constitution.<\/p>\n
\u201cOvercoming poverty and tackling the cost of living for South Africans is one of the strategic priorities of the Government of National Unity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur Constitution imposes a duty on the state to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to progressively realise this right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since 1994, successive administrations have adopted a multifaceted approach to hunger, including legislative reform, nutrition programmes in primary healthcare, and large-scale initiatives delivering food directly to communities and institutions.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa singled out the National School Nutrition Programme as one of the most effective. \u201cThis programme provides nutrition to more than 9 million learners from poor households on a daily basis,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe provision of meals at schools, with nutritious ingredients sourced from school and community food gardens, has had a positive impact on learner attendance, concentration and overall academic performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the impact of this programme is visible in education outcomes. \u201cLast year, learners from the poorest schools\u201460% of schools\u2014accounted for 67% of all bachelor passes achieved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa also pointed to the broader social safety net, including social grants, free primary healthcare, free basic and tertiary education, and free basic services.<\/p>\n
These interventions, he said, have \u201cfreed up money in households to buy food.\u201d He added that South Africa\u2019s social wage accounts for around 60% of government spending before interest payments, one of the highest levels among upper-middle-income countries.<\/p>\n
Citing a 2021 World Bank report, he noted that South Africa\u2019s system of social programmes was \u201ceffective, well-targeted and provide sizeable benefits to the poorest households,\u201d and that it \u201ceffectively reduces poverty and inequality rates.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the 7th Social Justice Summit, held last week by the Centre for Social Justice at Stellenbosch University, Ramaphosa said food security remains central to achieving social justice and the UN\u2019s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.<\/p>\n
He welcomed the Centre\u2019s Musa Plan, which aims to use data-driven research and collaborative resource mobilisation to end poverty, saying it would strengthen government efforts.<\/p>\n
Despite these gains, Ramaphosa warned that high unemployment, economic stagnation and rising inflation continue to undermine food security.<\/p>\n
He said market factors are contributing to rising food prices, putting more pressure on already struggling households.<\/p>\n
\u201cPractices like price-fixing that inflate food prices are directly contributing to food insecurity for households,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He referred to recent Competition Commission investigations, including a R1 million settlement with an edible oils producer earlier this year, and ongoing inquiries into bread, milling, poultry and fresh produce markets.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa called on major food retailers to take greater responsibility. \u201cThe \u2018Big Five\u2019 retail companies can and must play a far greater role in making nutritious food more affordable for South African households,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged positive efforts, such as Shoprite\u2019s R5 product line, but said more must be done.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs retailers work to grow their market share among low-income households, they have a responsibility to ensure this includes affordable healthy food choices such as plant and animal proteins, fruits and vegetables.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, the success of all efforts will rely on deeper collaboration between Government, business, labour and civil society,\u201d Ramaphosa said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ultimate measure of the success of our democratic dispensation lies in our ability to ensure that no person goes hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za<\/p>\n
Politics <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for urgent collaboration between government, business, and civil society to address South Africa\u2019s worsening food insecurity. In his weekly letter to the nation, he said the fight against hunger is a critical test of the country\u2019s democratic progress. Ramaphosa revealed that between 15 and 16 million South Africans currently face […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":256712,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[10342,373,2282,19412,426,19411,1789],"class_list":["post-256711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-politics","tag-affordable","tag-food","tag-government","tag-nutritious","tag-ramaphosa","tag-retailers","tag-urges"],"yoast_head":"\nGet your news on the go. Download the latest App for Android and IOS now.<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"