FOOD SECURITY PLANS UNDER SCRUTINY IN GAUTENG
Scale of the Hunger Crisis
- 2.8 million people in Gauteng are going hungry, according to Mark Heywood of the Union Against Hunger
Government Spending & Budget
- The Department of Social Development spent R340 million in the first quarter of the year.
- Over 1,100 non-profit organisations received funding from the department.
- The department’s annual budget is R1.9 billion, confirmed by MEC Nomantu Nkomo‑Ralehoko
Concerns Raised by NGOs
NGOs highlighted several urgent issues:
- “Communities cannot eat promises” — they want action, not plans.
- NGOs act as the “third leg of government”, doing frontline social work that the state relies on.
- They questioned what concrete plans exist to address hunger in South Africa’s richest province
- They questioned what concrete plans exist to address hunger in South Africa’s richest province.
- Departments often return unused funds to Treasury, despite widespread hunger — a practice the MEC called “a sin” and vowed to end
This article is adapted from MSN News reporting, with full credit to the original writers. Jozi Captions provides summaries and contextual analysis for our readers.
