Study reveals severe food insecurity crisis in South Africa

A recent study conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has uncovered that South Africa is experiencing widespread food insecurity, with 20% of households across the country facing food shortages.

Fewer people are taking part in agricultural activities, with the situation being particularly bad in KwaZulu-Natal.

Study conducted

The HSRC conducted the study to establish the food security situation in South Africa at the request of the government, specifically the agriculture department, according to SABC News.

Professor Thokozani Simelane of the HSRC stated that the study sampled over 43 000 households nationwide. The study included households across districts, provinces, and the country. Researchers collected the data during a survey of the nine provinces initiated in 2019 and completed in 2023. The study revealed that South Africa is facing severe food insecurity.

Professor Simelane highlighted the Zululand and uMkhanyakude districts in northern KwaZulu-Natal as the worst affected in terms of food security.

Following the conclusion of the findings, the HSRC presented the study’s findings to the KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli and agricultural affairs MEC Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa on Tuesday, 20 August 2024.

Urban households struggling more

Surprisingly, Professor Simelane stated that urban areas are more affected by food insecurity than rural areas. This is contradictory to what many people believe.

“The urban areas are very much affected by food insecurity because the land available is limited and they have limited means of producing their own food.” – Professor Thokozani Simelane, HSRC

He added that although there is plenty of land in rural areas, the agricultural activities of production have been abandoned.

Dire situation in KwaZulu-Natal, government to step in

Limpopo is the most food-secure province in the country. KwaZulu-Natal is the most affected province in terms of food insecurity, with unemployment worsening the situation.

According to Professor Simelane the KwaZulu-Natal district used to be largely part of a self-governing homeland. When South Africa became a democracy, many people stopped producing their own food.

The government has stated that it will spend R2bn on ‘turning the province green’ in an attempt to address the critical issue of food security, as reported by Times Live. 

Ntuli said they wanted to ensure the Dube TradePort is able to take products to other countries and that the government will launch an initiative to address food security issues in September.