South Africa is facing a severe child hunger crisis. Millions of people, including children, do not have enough nutritious food. This is despite the country producing and importing sufficient food for its needs.
The problem lies in unequal access, poverty, and systemic government failures. Recent data reveals a devastating human cost. In 2024 alone, 766 children under five died from malnutrition-related causes in public hospitals.
The crisis extends across the country. Provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Gauteng also report staggering numbers. This situation persists even though South Africa’s Constitution guarantees the right to food. Experts and officials point to a gap between policy and implementation.
SMread: Jo’burg demands accountability as water crisis continues
A system in paralysis
The scale of the problem is immense. An estimated 15 million South Africans suffer from food insecurity. UNICEF reports that nearly 13 million children in Eastern and Southern Africa are malnourished. This includes almost four million with severe acute malnutrition.
In South Africa, child stunting rates have remained at about 25% since the 1990s. This is a key indicator of chronic hunger. Experts argue that fragmented government responses are a major cause. Departments of Health, Social Development, and Education often work in silos, which allows vulnerable children to fall through the cracks.
The paradox is that South Africa wastes 10 million tonnes of food annually. This is equivalent to 30 billion meals. It is enough to feed all 20 million food-insecure people for a year. Yet, bureaucratic hurdles and laws that discourage food donation persist.
This systemic betrayal means children are dying from hunger in a nation that exports food. The crisis is worsened by a sense of normalisation. Many have come to see hunger as an inevitable part of life. This undermines the urgency required to address this fundamental human rights failure.
Image via Food Forward SA/LinkedIN
