BY Vincent Lali – this post first appeared at Elitsha
IN SUMMARY:
Protest and Demands: Dozens of poor residents protested outside Parliament in Cape Town on World Food Day, holding placards reading: “We are hungry”, “Healthy food for all”, and “Children are dying.” They sang struggle songs to mark the occasion.
Purpose of World Food Day: World Food Day, celebrated in over 150 countries, aims to promote healthy diets and eradicate hunger by 2030. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) was founded on October 16, 1945.
Food Production vs. Accessibility: Tinashe Njanji, national coordinator for the People’s Health Movement (PHM), highlighted that while South Africa produces enough food, it remains inaccessible to many due to high prices. He stated: “We have 20-million people who go to bed hungry every day. The food is there, but it’s not affordable.”
Impact of Ultra-Processed Food: Njanji emphasized the link between ultra-processed, affordable food and non-communicable diseases like cancer and diabetes, which are prevalent among the poor.
Rising Food Prices: The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) reported that nutritious food has become more unaffordable in 2024, with the average household food basket rising by R99.91 (1.9%) from September 2023 to September 2024. Items like tomatoes, sugar beans, and eggs saw the most significant increases.
Call for Community Empowerment: Njanji and others believe that equipping communities with knowledge and tools for food production is crucial. “Communities must be equipped with knowledge and tools so that they can produce food on their own,” he said.
Testimonies from Protesters:
- Noluthando Nazo of Gugulethu Health Forum criticized rising food prices and the resulting malnutrition among children, saying: “We use our monies to buy only starchy foods because we can’t afford to buy healthy foods.”
- Sindiswa Zibaya, a retired nurse, demanded better support for children relying on old-age grants, stating: “The R350 grant is not enough to buy food. The government must feed the poor and give them skills so that they can be independent.”
- Phumza Booi from Delft complained that rising transport and electricity costs have reduced the effectiveness of soup kitchens: “Soup kitchens make no difference to the hunger that the residents experience.”
Memorandum to Parliament: The protesters submitted a memorandum demanding the government guarantee access to nutritious meals for all citizens, stating: “It is unacceptable that, in a country where the right to food is enshrined in our Constitution, access to healthy meals is becoming the privilege of the wealthy.” They called for higher taxes on companies producing unhealthy foods, decent wages, and permanent social grants.
Government’s Response: Advocate Nombongo Mongo, from the Parliamentary Speaker’s office, confirmed they would respond to the memorandum or forward it to the relevant department.
