What is the food issue in South Africa and How Can It Be Solved?

December 30, 2025 •

3 min read

According to a 2024 Stats SA report, nearly one in four South African households faced hunger in 2023, highlighting the severe and complex nature of what is the food issue in South Africa. While the country is nationally food-secure, deeply rooted socioeconomic inequalities prevent millions from accessing adequate nutrition.

Quick Summary

A significant portion of South Africa's population struggles with food insecurity, driven by high poverty and unemployment. Systemic inequality and climate change further exacerbate the crisis, leading to a 'triple burden' of malnutrition. Solutions require a multi-faceted approach addressing economic factors, agricultural resilience, and effective policy implementation.

Key Points

Prevalence: In 2024, nearly a quarter of South African households experienced hunger, reflecting significant food insecurity despite national-level food sufficiency.
Root Causes: The food issue is driven by high poverty, severe unemployment, economic inequality, and the impacts of climate change.
Triple Burden of Malnutrition: South Africa faces a dual health crisis of both undernutrition (e.g., child stunting) and overnutrition (obesity) due to poor dietary choices influenced by affordability.
Systemic Failures: Factors like food waste (up to 45%), inefficient supply chains, and historical injustices regarding land access exacerbate the crisis.
Multi-faceted Solutions: Effective interventions must combine social safety nets, support for small-scale and climate-resilient farming, food waste reduction, and systemic policy reforms.
Vulnerable Populations: Rural communities, female-headed households, and children are particularly susceptible to food insecurity and its negative health consequences.

Understanding South Africa's Food Security Paradox

South Africa presents a paradox of food security: a net food exporter at a national level, yet a country where a substantial portion of the population faces chronic hunger and malnutrition at the household level. The issue extends far beyond mere food availability, encompassing deep-seated problems of access, affordability, and nutritional quality rooted in the country's history and current socioeconomic landscape. The COVID-19 pandemic and recent global economic shocks have intensified these challenges, pushing more vulnerable households into hunger.

The Root Causes of Food Insecurity

The complex food issue in South Africa stems from a confluence of interconnected factors.

Socioeconomic Inequality and Poverty

South Africa is one of the world's most unequal countries. High poverty and unemployment, particularly in rural areas and informal urban settlements, make food unaffordable for millions. Female-headed households and children are disproportionately affected. Social safety nets exist but often don't cover the cost of a healthy food basket.

Climate Change and Agricultural Vulnerability

South African agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate change, including droughts, floods, and extreme weather. These events threaten crop yields, particularly staples. Water scarcity is also a major concern. Small-scale farmers, often the most vulnerable, lack resources to adapt, unlike larger commercial farms.

Inefficient Food Supply Chains and Waste

Inefficiencies throughout the food supply chain lead to significant waste, with up to 45% of food being lost. This increases costs and disrupts availability. Poor infrastructure further complicates market access for rural producers.

The Triple Burden of Malnutrition

The food issue results in a 'triple burden' of malnutrition:

Undernutrition: Chronic undernourishment and child stunting are significant concerns.
Micronutrient Deficiencies: Lacking essential vitamins and minerals, even if calorie intake is sufficient.
Overweight and Obesity: Increased consumption of cheap, processed foods leads to rising obesity and diet-related diseases.

The Role of Policy and Governance

While South Africa has food security policies, implementation and sustainability are challenges. Past strategies focused heavily on welfare rather than self-sufficiency. The National Development Plan 2030 aims for a more multi-sectoral approach, requiring effective collaboration.

Comparison of Rural vs. Urban Food Insecurity


Factor	Rural Areas	Urban Areas
Prevalence	Historically higher rates.	Significant numbers in metros report inadequate access.
Primary Cause	Limited resource access and reliance on subsistence farming.	Primarily unemployment and reliance on cash income.
Dietary Diversity	Often lacks diversity due to limited access and cost.	Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Safety Nets	Dependent on social grants, which may not cover nutritious food.	Often supplemented by community initiatives.
Agricultural Activity	Higher prevalence of subsistence farming with often low yields.	Lower agricultural activity, some backyard gardening.

Potential Solutions and Interventions

A multi-pronged approach is needed. Key interventions include:

Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture: Promoting climate-smart farming and supporting small-scale farmers.
Reducing Food Waste: Improving supply chain efficiency and redistributing surplus food.
Strengthening Social Safety Nets: Better targeting and potentially expanding grants.
Promoting Nutrition Education: Educating families on healthy diets.
Investing in Infrastructure: Improving rural roads and water access for market participation.
Empowering Community Initiatives: Supporting local gardens and food kitchens.
Tackling Systemic Inequality: Addressing land reform and governance for a more equitable food system. The National Development Plan 2030 provides a framework.

For more information on research and policy efforts, consult the African Centre for Biodiversity Fact Sheet on Climate Change Impacts on SA Agriculture.

Conclusion

The food issue in South Africa is a complex, systemic challenge rooted in inequality, poverty, climate change, and policy gaps. Despite national food security, household hunger and malnutrition persist. A holistic approach is essential, combining immediate relief with long-term investments in sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and addressing underlying structural inequalities. This path can lead to a more equitable and food-secure future for all South Africans.

Frequently Asked Questions

While South Africa produces enough food to feed its entire population and even exports surpluses, high levels of poverty, unemployment, and severe inequality mean that millions of households lack the economic means to access or afford this food.

The 'triple burden' refers to the coexistence of undernutrition (such as child stunting), micronutrient deficiencies ('hidden hunger'), and overnutrition (overweight and obesity). This is caused by poverty-driven dietary patterns that prioritize cheap, calorie-dense foods over nutritious ones.

Climate change in South Africa leads to increased droughts, floods, and temperature extremes, which negatively impact agricultural production, especially staple crops like maize and wheat. This instability threatens the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and can drive up food prices.

High unemployment significantly reduces household income, limiting the ability of families to purchase sufficient and nutritious food. Data shows that households with unemployed members are at a much higher risk of experiencing hunger.

Effective solutions include supporting community and backyard gardens, strengthening social grants and school feeding programs, educating communities on nutrition, and investing in climate-resilient agricultural practices for small-scale farmers.

Yes, South Africa faces a significant food waste problem, with studies indicating up to 45% of food is lost or wasted along the supply chain. Addressing this through better logistics and redistribution can help improve food availability.

Global events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, have created supply chain disruptions, rising fuel and fertilizer prices, and overall economic shocks. This has led to higher food prices, further straining the budgets of low-income households.