Exclusive: UAH talks hunger, price hikes and reform

Updated June 6, 2025, 11:58 a.m. | By Reeshni Chetty-McConnachie

"We need your voices to echo our call for food equity and justice in South Africa,” Dr Busiso Moyo of the Union Against Hunger told East Coast Radio.

In an effort to address the critical issue of food insecurity in South Africa, Union Against Hunger (UAH) has initiated a compelling petition urging the government to implement measures to lower food prices.

Dr. Busiso Moyo, a post-doctoral fellow at the Centre of Excellence in Food Security at the University of the Western Cape and a key figure within UAH recently elaborated on the petition and its objectives during an interview with East Coast Radio.

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"Ours is a question of how do we confront the issue of hunger in South Africa? The first point of reference is, how is it that people are making sense of the food system? We wanted to zone in on food pricing in particular," Dr. Moyo stated.

The UAH's petition underscores the disparity between food prices and the economic realities faced by many South African households. With high unemployment rates and widespread poverty, the petition focuses on the need for food equity and calls for government intervention to ensure fair food pricing.

Reflecting on conversations with community members, Dr. Moyo touched on the significant challenges faced by various groups. "We were in conversation with domestic workers who talked about their frustrations in this space [and] how they are anchoring the food systems of the affluent but are very much food insecure. It's about purchasing power."

This situation extends to farm workers, described by Dr. Moyo as experiencing "seasonal hunger on these farms. The very people that [sic] produce our food are in a very precarious situation when we look at their food security context."

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UAH's petition seeks backing from the public to address these systemic issues. Dr. Moyo explained, "We need the masses to really rally behind this petition in an attempt to have some kind of interface with these corporate actors who seem to be absent when we're speaking about socioeconomic objectives in the country."

The ultimate goal is to bring corporate entities to the table to identify and implement viable solutions.

"A large part of this conversation is underpinned by land and agrarian reform concerns," Dr. Moyo emphasised. The petition pushes for a holistic approach to address hunger, which includes land reform, better social safety nets and more transparent corporate practices.

The call for corporate transparency is a significant aspect of the petition. "Annual reports indicate that 10 million tonnes of food go to waste in South Africa. This is very unsustainable in a context like ours," noted Dr. Moyo.

To achieve fair food pricing, the petition advocates for a basic needs basket that outlines essential, nutritious foods. According to Dr. Moyo, "Once we are clear on that, maybe the state can subsidise those foods or introduce intervention mechanisms like maximum price settings. The possibilities are endless."

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Government is aware of this initiative, as Dr Moyo explained: “We had an opportunity to be given an audience by the Department of Social Development in particular.”

Additionally, UAH highlights the influential role of informal food sectors in sustaining large sections of the population. Dr. Moyo stated, "It’s about the state's power to convene so that there can be a meeting of minds to grapple with the issue of hunger in South Africa."

For those interested in supporting the petition, it can be accessed via UAH's website, unionagainsthunger.org. Dr. Moyo noted, "The petition has been flighted with the assistance of our partners at Amandla.mobi. Alternatively, a range of petitions is available on their platform."

As UAH continues to push for critical changes, the need for collective action becomes ever more pressing. Dr. Moyo concluded by thanking the public for their support and encouraged continued advocacy: "We need your voices to echo our call for food equity and justice in South Africa."

From discussions with domestic and farm workers to engagements with government officials, UAH's petition is a comprehensive call to action. Their efforts exemplify the struggle for a more equitable food system that accommodates the needs of all South Africans.

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