Yet, according to recent statistics by Stats SA and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 14 million South Africans — nearly one in four people — suffer from food insecurity. Children, persons with disabilities, older persons, women and other marginalised groups bear the brunt of this crisis, undermining their dignity, health, and development. Malnutrition in children remains a critical concern, with over 27% of children under five stunted, affecting their long-term physical and cognitive growth.

Food wastage compounds this tragedy, with estimates showing that 30-40% of food produced in South Africa is lost or wasted. This avoidable loss must be urgently addressed by all sectors of society.

Saving food, empowering communities, and engaging businesses are indispensable pillars in the fight against hunger. Communities must be supported through education and practical programs to become self-sustaining via local food production, nutritional awareness, and food sovereignty initiatives. Businesses must adopt sustainable, ethical practices that minimise waste and promote equitable access to nutritious food.

We call on stakeholders including the South African Social Security Agency (SASA), pension fund administrators, and all social security providers to eliminate barriers denying the right to food, directly or indirectly. The systemic delays in the Master’s offices—where heirs and dependants face hardships accessing Letters of Executorship or Authority—exacerbate poverty and place unnecessary strain on government services. We urge the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Department of Social Development, and other relevant departments to urgently improve coordination, streamline processes, and implement robust consequence management systems to ensure timely and effective service delivery.

As the South African Human Rights Commission, we reaffirm our commitment to monitor and promote the realisation of the right to food, especially for children, persons with disabilities, older persons, and marginalised communities. To this end, we will be embarking on unannounced monitoring visits to various institutions referenced above to assess compliance and effectiveness in upholding the right to food and related mandates. Accountability and consequence management will remain central to these efforts. We therefore urge members of the communities, civil society organisations to bring any complaints to our attention.

Hunger Day is a call to action. By working together—saving food, educating communities, engaging the private sector, holding institutions accountable, and strengthening oversight—we can make tangible progress in eradicating hunger and fulfilling the constitutional and international right to food for every South African.

ENDS

ISSUED BU THE SOUTH AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

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