President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans from all walks of life to join hands in the fight against hunger and food insecurity, saying no person in the country should ever go to bed hungry.
In his weekly From the Desk of the President letter on Monday, 20 October 2025, Ramaphosa reflected on discussions held at the 7th Social Justice Summit hosted by Stellenbosch University. The summit, he said, was a vital platform where government, policymakers, academics, and civil society explored new strategies to ensure access to affordable, nutritious food for all South Africans.
He noted that food security remains a cornerstone of the Government of National Unity’s mission to tackle poverty and the rising cost of living. “Access to nutritious food directly affects the physical health and development of individuals and societies,” the president wrote, highlighting that nearly 16 million South Africans still struggle to access enough food.
South Africa is one of only 29 countries worldwide where the right to food and water is protected by the Constitution. Successive democratic governments, Ramaphosa said, have invested in policies and programmes aimed at eradicating hunger — including school feeding schemes, social grants, free education, and primary healthcare services.
Among the most impactful initiatives, the National School Nutrition Programme now provides daily meals to more than nine million learners from low-income families. This, the president said, has improved not only nutrition but also school attendance, concentration, and academic performance.
However, he admitted that food insecurity remains widespread, especially in the face of unemployment, slow economic growth, and rising prices. “We must look at market factors that are making the cost of nutritious food increasingly out of reach,” he said.
Recent data from Statistics South Africa shows a steady rise in food inflation, with essentials like meat and vegetables becoming more expensive. While basic food items remain zero-rated for VAT, Ramaphosa stressed the need for fairness and accountability in food markets.
He pointed to the Competition Commission’s ongoing efforts to curb anti-competitive practices in the food industry — including investigations into price-fixing and monopolistic behaviour among producers and retailers.
The president also urged private sector participation, calling on South Africa’s largest retailers — the “Big Five” — to play a bigger role in keeping nutritious food affordable. He commended efforts like the Shoprite Group’s R5 product line, which helps lower-income families access basic necessities.
Ramaphosa praised the Musa Plan, developed by the Centre for Social Justice, as a promising initiative that combines research and collaboration to combat food poverty.
“Ultimately, the success of all efforts will rely on deeper collaboration between government, business, labour and civil society,” he concluded. “The true test of our democracy lies in ensuring that no person goes hungry.”