South Africa Faces Food Insecurity as a Major Driver of Poverty and Crime
South Africa: Civil Society and Activists Converge to Address Food Insecurity as a Driver of Poverty and Crime. CAPE TOWN – Civil society organisations, women seasonal farm workers, and academics from the Western Cape gathered this week to highlight food insecurity as a key driver of both poverty and crime in South Africa. Their voices echoed a growing concern: the systemic issues of food scarcity are deeply intertwined with social and economic inequality, which, in turn, fuels crime rates across the country.
In observance of World Food Day on Wednesday, the Union Against Hunger organised a mini-indaba (forum) in Cape Town to support local communities in asserting their constitutional right to food. The event brought together a broad spectrum of voices—from grassroots activists to academics—to demand urgent action in addressing hunger and food inequality.
According to the Union Against Hunger, despite South Africa’s constitutional guarantees to food and nutrition, approximately 15 million people in the country still experience hunger on a daily basis. This stark reality is a harsh reminder that while policies may exist, the mechanisms to make food accessible to all South Africans are still insufficient. The event underscored the deep contradictions between South Africa’s political and legal frameworks on food security and the everyday struggles of millions who face chronic hunger.
The Union Against Hunger used the occasion to call for accountability from both the South African government and agricultural industry leaders. While the government has committed to reducing hunger and improving food security, activists argue that progress has been too slow. Speakers emphasised that food insecurity is not just a matter of insufficient food supply but is deeply entrenched in socio-economic systems that perpetuate inequality and undermine the right to food for marginalised communities.
South Africa: Cape Town Mini-Indaba Tackles Hunger Crisis
One of the most compelling voices at the event was Colette Solomons, an activist with Women on Farms. She criticised the continuing marginalisation of women in agriculture, especially those working as seasonal farm labourers. Despite their critical role in food production, many women farmers remain landless, impoverished, and unable to access the very food they help cultivate. Solomons expressed her outrage, stating, “Food insecurity, for us, is a system that prioritises profits over people, making it unaffordable for the women who produce the food.” She explained that the current agricultural system, which places profit maximisation above human welfare, leaves workers—especially women—vulnerable to hunger and poverty.
Solomons went further to highlight how the exploitation of farm labourers is a direct consequence of South Africa’s agricultural policies and global market forces. According to her, the system makes food unaffordable for the very people who are tasked with producing it. She called for policy reforms that would secure fair wages, access to land, and better working conditions for farm labourers, particularly women, who continue to face systemic inequality despite their essential contributions to the agricultural sector.
The event also featured Yandiswa Mazwana, a representative from the Masiphumelele Creative Hub in Fish Hoek, who shared the harsh realities of food insecurity in her community. Masiphumelele, an informal settlement on the outskirts of Cape Town, is home to many people who experience daily hunger due to lack of access to reliable food sources. “Food insecurity, for us, manifests in areas of our communities we call ‘wetlands,’ where people are forced to start over each year with little hope for change,” Mazwana explained. These “wetlands” are informal settlements where residents lack access to proper infrastructure, reliable food systems, and social services. The constant displacement and lack of resources create a cycle of poverty and hunger that is difficult to break.
Mazwana emphasised the psychological and social toll that food insecurity has on her community. She explained that many people in Masiphumelele are not just fighting hunger but also grappling with the trauma of living in conditions of instability and deprivation. The struggle for food becomes a fight for survival, where each year brings new challenges, with little opportunity for upward mobility.
The Union Against Hunger noted that this mini-indaba is part of a larger series of community-led events taking place across South Africa to confront hunger and food insecurity head-on. The organisation sees these grassroots events as vital to empowering local communities to take charge of their food systems and to demand change from the government and the private sector. These dialogues are designed to elevate the voices of those most affected by food insecurity and bring attention to the broader social and economic structures that perpetuate it.
At the heart of the discussions was the urgent need for systemic change. Activists and community leaders stressed the importance of sustainable food production, land reform, and equitable food distribution. They argued that a comprehensive approach, one that prioritises the needs of the poor and marginalised, is essential to solving the hunger crisis. It was emphasised that food insecurity cannot be solved through charity or short-term aid alone; it requires long-term solutions that address the root causes of inequality.
In conclusion, the Union Against Hunger reiterated its commitment to the eradication of hunger in South Africa. The organisation called for stronger policy interventions, greater investment in sustainable agriculture, and better protections for vulnerable populations. As the mini-indaba wrapped up, the message was clear: food insecurity is not just a problem of hunger, but a systemic issue of justice, equity, and human rights. The voices of the activists, community leaders, and farm workers are a powerful reminder that the fight for food security is a fight for a more just and equitable society.
Source- EWN
