South Africa’s food security dropped last year to its lowest level in more than a decade, the Shoprite retail group has reported.
Shoprite operates Checkers and other national stores, and bills itself as Africa’s largest supermarket retailer. It has published a food security index measuring South Africa’s performance since 2012, and the 2023 outcome is the worst of that period.
Food security is measured on a scale of 0 (severe) to 100 (excellent). South Africa was put at 52.4 in 2012, rising to 64.6 in 2019. Following the Covid-19 pandemic and the food price impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it dropped to 45.3 in 2023.
The Shoprite report said 1 in 10 of all households experienced child hunger, rising to 1 in 4 for the poorest households. Hunger was worst in rural areas.
South Africa’s nutrition performance was not aligned to its level of economic development in terms of nutrition outcomes such as stunting. The report said stunting amongst children in South Africa is much higher than the country’s economic peers, “comparing more closely to lower middle income countries such as Zimbabwe”.
Its recommendations include supporting access to more nutritious food for young children, women and households.
“National Treasury must strongly consider zero rating VAT on certain key food products, especially protein-rich items used by lower income households.
“There is currently a process underway to reconsider the food items which are VAT-exempt and to potentially expand the zero-rated VAT list. Multiple stakeholders have argued for adding affordable protein sources to this list – which is supported by the meat and poultry industry.
“This needs to be urgently considered and put into action considering both the hunger and nutrition problem in South Africa,” Shoprite said.
