Cape Town - While many South Africans start their day with a healthy breakfast and end it with a hearty supper, millions are still faced with the harsh reality of hunger.
To put the spotlight on hunger on World Food Day a picket was held outside Parliament by the People's Health Movement of South Africa to express deep dissatisfaction with the rising cost of healthy foods in South Africa.
According to Tinashe Njanji, the coordinator of the People's Health Movement, what was once a basic necessity has now become a luxury for many South Africans.
“It is unacceptable that, in a country where the right to food is enshrined in our Constitution, access to healthy meals is becoming the privilege of the wealthy.
“Over the last decade, food prices have nearly doubled, leaving the poor with few options other than inexpensive, unhealthy alternatives,” said Njanji.
Tiger Brands, a South African packaged goods company, with several iconic brands under its umbrella, through their foundation called for collective action to combat hunger through a range of food programmes throughout the country.
Mary-Jane Morifi, the chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer at Tiger Brands said that they are doing their bit by helping thousands of households in impoverished communities have access to a meal.
The school breakfast nutrition programme feeds learners in non-paying fee schools in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, in addition they also have the edu-plant programme which consists of food gardens at the various schools across the country.
A University Food Programme called Plates for Days is available at nine campuses where students are provided with food hampers for a month. Tiger Brands also has partnerships with NGOs such as Food Harvest who supply food to soup kitchens and Food Forward who distribute food in cases of disasters.
The company also has nine bakeries nationally, the Albany Bakery in Bellville produces approximately 67 million loaves of bread per annum travelling 300 000 kilometres per month.
Regional Coordinator and Project Manager at The Tiger Brands Foundation, Kefiloe Mokoena, said: “Our in-school breakfast programme is more than just providing meals, it is an investment in each learner's future. Every meal represents hope, ensuring learners can focus in class and develop the skills needed to succeed.”
marsha.dean@inl.co.za