Study Shows Half Of South Africans Go Hungry

Study shows half of South Africans go hungry

The members of the 'Happy girls' netball team take part in a practice session at Katlehong township, south-east of Johannesburg, South Africa, June 10, 2022. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo

A new report from the World Data Lab shows that the percentage of people in South Africa who won’t have enough food to meet their basic needs is expected to slightly decrease to just below 50% by 2025. This estimate, conducted as part of research for Shoprite Holdings Ltd.’s food index, suggests that 49% of South Africans will still experience food insecurity in two years’ time, which is a small improvement from the 52% recorded during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The Western Cape, Free State, and Eastern Cape provinces are anticipated to make significant progress in addressing hunger.

Sanjeev Raghubir, Shoprite’s head of sustainability and corporate social investment, pointed out that although the research predicts improvement by 2025, the reality is that nearly half the population will still be grappling with food insecurity. He stressed the urgency of accelerating efforts to help more people escape food insecurity, stating that such actions would not only enhance their prospects but also benefit the country as a whole.

In a statement released on Monday, Africa’s largest grocer highlighted its commitment to drawing attention to food insecurity and encouraging South Africans to take action in the fight against hunger and poverty. South Africa stands as the most unequal country in the world in terms of food insecurity, for which data is available.