RSA must ensure food access & affordability

29 March 2016

There is a lot for South Africans to be concerned about at present. The issue of state capture is one end of our dilemma. The other is that of soaring food prices.

In November 2015, Stats SA released GDP figures showing three consecutive quarters of steep decline in agricultural activity. Maize, sunflower and sugar cane farmers have been hit very hard by the drought. Maize and wheat and other food will therefore have to be imported; but the weaker rand will drive up the price quite considerably.

According to Stats SA, grain-based food products usually accounted for over one-third of the food budget for households in rural areas. Many households in North West and Eastern Cape were flagged in recent data, from the General Household Survey, as being unable to afford food purchases. The data showed that 22% of households in the country ran out of money to buy food some time during the 12 months prior to the survey.

With food prices soaring at present, the situation of food security is going to be severely compromised over the approaching winter. The rapidly rising food prices fuelled the Arab Spring. We need to bear that in mind.

In the same way that Operation Hydrate came into existence, someone will need to start an Operation Feed very quickly. Resources will have to be gathered and an organisation structured to make sure that food is available for adequate nutrition wherever people are under severe pressure. Some estimates indicate that up to 14 million South Africans have been going to bed hungry. Furthermore, almost half of all South African households have been unable to afford the food they need to purchase. Many more will soon be going to bed hungry and dispirited. Action is needed very urgently.

It is better to be proactive and to deal with the food crisis expeditiously and effectively. Government, NGO’s, faith based organisations and civil society must cooperatively and collectively formulate a plan to deal with the impending food crisis. We understand from media reports that the drought of the past few months has been the worst since 1904. Therefore, the situation we face this winter will be very demanding and equally very dangerous.

Government must also explore every means to subsidise maize for the next six months so that this staple, at least, remains affordable.

COPE urges all South Africans to take hands in averting a major crisis that is developing in front of our very eyes.   

Issued by Dennis Bloem, COPE Spokesperson, 29 March 2016