The Human Science Research Council (HSRC) says an estimated 14 million people go to bed hungry in South Africa, while more than 1 000 children died from malnutrition last year.
The issue of hunger has come under scrutiny at the South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) inquiry into the right to food taking place in Johannesburg.
The hearings follow growing concern over food insecurity and affordability, particularly for poor households.
The Eastern Cape recorded the highest number of deaths.
The SAHRC has called on farmers, food producers and distributors to explain the barriers preventing millions from accessing adequate nutrition.
Grain SA CEO Dr Tobias Doyer faced a question from evidence leader Shirley Mlambo.
Mlambo: “There’s a debate to say food is not affordable because of inflation at the retail side and others at the production side. What would you attribute food inflation in South Africa. Which render food products unaffordable?”
Dr Doyer: “The key challenge is that each value chain has a different structure. If we look at bread, 18 percent of a loaf of bread drives from the price of wheat. 80% comes from the retail, transportation, energy, baking and milling.”
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