Abstract:
Almost two decades after South Africa’s political transformation, the country’s food security
context demands serious attention amidst excessively high unemployment and depressed
economic growth. Although food insecurity at household and individual levels is unacceptably
high in South Africa, the nation has for decades reported its aggregate national position as
“food secure”. This paper examines the purpose and proposals presented in the National
Development Plan and New Growth Path Framework against the development requirements
of sustainability, productivity and efficiency, reflects on the implications of the proposals on the
right to food, and makes recommendations for the design of a comprehensive national food
security policy.
