By Maile Matsimela
Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development in Gauteng, has called for urgent reforms to support urban farming, enabling it to play a critical role in addressing local food security.
The MEC hosted the inaugural Ending Hunger Symposium in Johannesburg on 8 April, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The event, the first of many planned sectoral engagements, brought together key players in the agricultural sector, government officials, industry leaders and activists, all committed to addressing food insecurity in South Africa.
In her opening remarks, Ramokgopa underscored the urgency of the food security crisis, stating that it was not a challenge for the future but a crisis that South Africans are facing right now. “We must stop treating food security as a distant problem,” she said. “The time for decisive action is now.” She called for immediate, coordinated efforts to address the growing issues of hunger and malnutrition affecting millions across the country.
A key focus of the symposium was the challenge of urban farming, particularly the restrictive zoning laws and municipal bylaws that hinder efforts to expand agricultural production in urban areas.
The MEC said these barriers, along with land tenure issues, have exacerbated food insecurity, especially in cities. She called for urgent reforms to enable urban farming to flourish and play a role in addressing food security at the local level.
Coordination is key
Throughout the symposium, coordination emerged as a key theme. Stakeholders from various sectors stressed the importance of aligning efforts to address food insecurity. Ramokgopa echoed this sentiment, pointing out that fragmented actions across sectors have hindered meaningful progress. “We need to work together to create a unified, coordinated approach,” she said.
Tintswalo Makhubele, a commercial farmer, emphasised the personal impact of food insecurity, saying that families often face heartbreaking decisions about who eats and who goes hungry. She highlighted the critical role of women in farming, noting that empowering women was essential for building sustainable livelihoods for families and communities.
Another important point raised during the symposium was the importance of a supportive legislative framework. Alan Browde, the founder of SA Harvest, spoke on the need for legal structures to support food security initiatives. He acknowledged that implementing such frameworks would take time, but emphasised that now’s the time to lay the groundwork for long-term solutions.
Ramokgopa also highlighted the deep connection between food security and poverty alleviation. She noted that food insecurity was often the result of economic exclusion, and that addressing root causes such as access to income, employment and education was vital for improving food security. “Food is not a privilege, it’s a right,” she said.
The symposium concluded with a unified call for collective action to create sustainable solutions to food insecurity. There was agreement that addressing hunger was not solely the responsibility of government, but required the involvement of every individual, organisation and sector.
Only through coordinated efforts can South Africa ensure that all citizens have access to the food they need to thrive.
Also read:
‘Our black farmers must also have a seat at the table’ – Gauteng’s MEC for Agriculture
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