Concerns about unrest as food costs in South Africa surge

 Concerns about unrest as food costs in South Africa surge. The food security situation in South Africa is getting worse as a result of rising food prices, which could lead to more social unrest and a recurrence of the deadly turmoil in July.

Concerns about unrest as food costs in South Africa surge

Food First An group in South Africa that works to end hunger in underprivileged areas estimates that 30 million people there are food insecure every month.

In South Africa, we are experiencing a food security crisis, and malnourished individuals are showing up. Twelve children starved to death in the Eastern Cape, and as the nation develops, we will see more instances of this. As a result, we are also witnessing opportunistic crime. Our main worry is that the uncontrollable riots of July 2021 would put our nation in a very tough situation if inflation is not brought under control and food security is not addressed ,said by Andy Du Plessis, managing director of Food Forward SA.

Last month, consumer inflation in South Africa reached a 13-year high, primarily as a result of rising transportation and food costs. According to the most recent Household Affordability Index from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group, the average household's basic food costs about 270 US dollars per month. The essential ingredients include cooking oil, maize meal, and cake flour, according to Mervyn Abrahams, coordinator of the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Programme.

When we compare our basket to last year's and this year's, as well as some of the products in the food basket, we would see that staples such as maize meal has climbed by approximately 11%, flour by 24%, five litres of cooking oil has increased by about 69%, and brown bread by around 15%, said by Abrahams.

Consumers on the ground claim that they are unable to make ends meet.

We are unable to keep up with the rapid rise in food prices. Your youngster goes to the store and returns to tell you that the proprietors are charging more, said by Bonginkosi Zondo, a customer who purchases potatoes from a vendor in Johannesburg's Randburg Square.

The increase in food prices is just astonishing. The pandemic of COVID-19 is what has made it worse. Throughout this time, people lost their employment. One of the causes of the disturbance in Durban in July is the current economic situation. We must restart growing our own food ,Sipho Zungu, a customer who buys traditional medicine in Johannesburg, said as much.