Why should there be hunger and deprivation in any land, in any city, at any table, when man has the resources and the scientific know-how to provide all mankind with the basic necessities of life? There is no deficit in human resources. The deficit is in human will’.
- Martin Luther King, Jr
Food Security in South Africa
Poverty and food insecurity in South Africa is the result of centuries of colonial and apartheid policies designed to have a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of black people. More than 14 million people or about 35% of the population (rural and urban) in South Africa are estimated to be vulnerable to food insecurity. Among these, women, children and the elderly are the most vulnerable. The incidence of malnutrition in children under five in rural areas has been estimated at 60%
Food security has been defined at the 1997 World Food Summit as ‘when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.’ The right to adequate food is also well established in international human rights instruments which is further reaffirmed within the South African Constitution where food security is recognized as a basic human right. Section 27 (1) (b) of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution guarantees all South Africans ‘the right to have access to sufficient food and water’ and the State ‘must take reasonable legislative and other measures within its available resources to achieve the progressive realization’ of this right. (Section 27 (2)).
In reality however there is a widening gap between the ideal in the Bill of Rights and the economic rights of many South Africans. The majority of citizens particularly Africans experience widespread inequalities, poverty and food insecurity despite the growing economy and good food security conditions at national level. The rising food prices is devastating for working people who have to spend a very high proportion of their income on food and have to prioritize between food, water, medicines, school fees, transportation and other essential goods and services. About half of the population lives in households where each person earns less than R400 ($50) a month. High unemployment especially in rural areas means that many households cannot meet their daily food requirements. People living in poverty cannot find the means of getting enough food either through growing it or buying it.
Statistically South Africa has sufficient food resources to feed its population so the level of food insecurity is a failure to guarantee access to sufficient food at the household level and not primarily an agricultural failure as it might be in other Southern African states. Increasing food prices, widespread unemployment and lack of government restrictions to control price increases have dramatically affected food affordability.
It has been convincingly argued that the current Southern African food crisis is inextricably linked to the widespread HIV epidemic which has exacerbated the crisis. Availability, stability, access and use of food are all affected where the prevalence of HIV / AIDS is high. Those living with or affected by this chronic illness find it difficult to work, spend time caring for others, have less energy to do things like cultivating fields, interacting socially and pursuing different livelihood strategies.
The Khuphuka Project’s Community Care staff visit the most vulnerable households in Mqatsheni on a weekly basis. According to a recent analysis of assessments carried out in these households, the vast majority of our clients are female (over 80%) and 92% are unemployed. 40% presented as HIV Positive and 40% reported as not knowing their status. 73% of households had food security issues. This is a community which has been deeply affected by the HIV / AIDS pandemic.
The Khuphuka Project responds to the food security crisis in a number of ways:
Households who have limited or no income, with hungry children, people living with HIV, AIDS or TB and/or qualifying for state grants are prioritized through assessments conducted by our Information and Advocacy team. Those most at need at any one time are then provided with emergency food parcels which provide basic nutrition for a household. Of those households, the ones which qualify for state grant help are then supported by the Information and advocacy service to apply for and obtain the grants in question.
Other families are referred to the Youth service gardening scheme which involves volunteer youth groups within Mqatsheni creating and maintaining high yielding vegetable gardens as a long term source of food. Once a household has been supported in obtaining a more sustainable source of food the temporary food parcels are moved to the next household which needs our help, thus avoiding dependence.
Pressure will also be maintained towards the Dept. Social Development to live up to its constitutional responsibilities in providing food security support through its ‘Social relief of Distress’ scheme which in practice rarely seems to benefit those most in need in the Mqatsheni community.
We would like to especially thank the organization Buddhist Global Relief for their continued support in this area of our work.
Food security has been defined at the 1997 World Food Summit as ‘when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.’ The right to adequate food is also well established in international human rights instruments which is further reaffirmed within the South African Constitution where food security is recognized as a basic human right. Section 27 (1) (b) of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution guarantees all South Africans ‘the right to have access to sufficient food and water’ and the State ‘must take reasonable legislative and other measures within its available resources to achieve the progressive realization’ of this right. (Section 27 (2)).
In reality however there is a widening gap between the ideal in the Bill of Rights and the economic rights of many South Africans. The majority of citizens particularly Africans experience widespread inequalities, poverty and food insecurity despite the growing economy and good food security conditions at national level. The rising food prices is devastating for working people who have to spend a very high proportion of their income on food and have to prioritize between food, water, medicines, school fees, transportation and other essential goods and services. About half of the population lives in households where each person earns less than R400 ($50) a month. High unemployment especially in rural areas means that many households cannot meet their daily food requirements. People living in poverty cannot find the means of getting enough food either through growing it or buying it.
Statistically South Africa has sufficient food resources to feed its population so the level of food insecurity is a failure to guarantee access to sufficient food at the household level and not primarily an agricultural failure as it might be in other Southern African states. Increasing food prices, widespread unemployment and lack of government restrictions to control price increases have dramatically affected food affordability.
It has been convincingly argued that the current Southern African food crisis is inextricably linked to the widespread HIV epidemic which has exacerbated the crisis. Availability, stability, access and use of food are all affected where the prevalence of HIV / AIDS is high. Those living with or affected by this chronic illness find it difficult to work, spend time caring for others, have less energy to do things like cultivating fields, interacting socially and pursuing different livelihood strategies.
Food Security in Mqatsheni
The Khuphuka Project’s Community Care staff visit the most vulnerable households in Mqatsheni on a weekly basis. According to a recent analysis of assessments carried out in these households, the vast majority of our clients are female (over 80%) and 92% are unemployed. 40% presented as HIV Positive and 40% reported as not knowing their status. 73% of households had food security issues. This is a community which has been deeply affected by the HIV / AIDS pandemic.
The Khuphuka Project responds to the food security crisis in a number of ways:
Households who have limited or no income, with hungry children, people living with HIV, AIDS or TB and/or qualifying for state grants are prioritized through assessments conducted by our Information and Advocacy team. Those most at need at any one time are then provided with emergency food parcels which provide basic nutrition for a household. Of those households, the ones which qualify for state grant help are then supported by the Information and advocacy service to apply for and obtain the grants in question.
Other families are referred to the Youth service gardening scheme which involves volunteer youth groups within Mqatsheni creating and maintaining high yielding vegetable gardens as a long term source of food. Once a household has been supported in obtaining a more sustainable source of food the temporary food parcels are moved to the next household which needs our help, thus avoiding dependence.
Pressure will also be maintained towards the Dept. Social Development to live up to its constitutional responsibilities in providing food security support through its ‘Social relief of Distress’ scheme which in practice rarely seems to benefit those most in need in the Mqatsheni community.
We would like to especially thank the organization Buddhist Global Relief for their continued support in this area of our work.
(1)This short overview of food security in South Africa was compiled using an article by Morris Mbondenyi ‘Achieving food security in South Africa’. For the full article see Foundation for Human Rights: Advancing a Human Rights Agenda in South Africa (2009) www.fhr.org.za