The Union Against Hunger organised Food Justice Week from 25 to 30 May to demand government action on hunger in South Africa, where 30 children die from malnutrition daily. Events included media briefings, dialogues with legal experts, and pickets at Shoprite stores.
South Africa produces enough food to feed its population, yet many households cannot afford basic nutrition. At a 26 May media briefing, Zwelinzima Vavi of the South African Federation of Trade Unions noted that the average household food basket costs over R5,400 monthly while the national minimum wage often falls short after other expenses.
On 27 May, a dialogue at Section27 offices in Johannesburg featured Constitutional Court Justice Jody Kollapen. Participants discussed Section 27 and Section 28 of the Constitution, which require the state to ensure access to sufficient food and basic nutrition for children without resource-based limitations.
On 28 May, Union Against Hunger members picketed 28 Shoprite stores across seven provinces. They handed over a memorandum calling for a 20% reduction in staple food prices, a living wage for workers, and lower executive pay, citing the retailer’s R7-billion net profit last year.
