More than 120 people from civil society organisations gathered outside the Department of Agriculture in Pretoria under the banner of the Union Against Hunger (UAH), calling on Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen to take urgent action to address widespread food insecurity in South Africa.

The protest was led by UAH co-founder Mark Heywood, who presented a memorandum of demands highlighting the contradiction between South Africa’s sufficient food production and the reality that millions of people still go hungry.

He emphasised that malnutrition is causing long-term harm to children, while many households are forced to choose between basic necessities such as food, transport, electricity, and education costs.High school learners and university students also joined the demonstration, underscoring the generational impact of hunger.Heywood argued that access to adequate food is a constitutional right, referencing Section 28 which guarantees children the right to basic nutrition.

He further stated that the Minister’s responsibilities include agricultural production, food security, rural development, and improving market access.

The memorandum set out several key demands, including the immediate publication of the draft national food and nutrition security plan, a clear timeline for its finalisation, and Cabinet approval before World Food Day on 16 October.

Protesters also called for affordability to be treated as a central food security issue, stronger support for small-scale farmers and community producers, and better integration of local food systems into formal markets.

In addition, they urged the government to develop an emergency anti-hunger programme in coordination with other departments and to strengthen accountability for those influencing food prices and supply chains.

The memorandum was accepted by Bonga Msomi, acting deputy director-general for food security and agrarian reform, who indicated that an official response would be provided.

Protesters shared personal testimonies, including residents who described seeing children going to school hungry and individuals struggling with rising food prices while relying on limited social grants.The demonstration highlighted growing public concern about inequality in food access despite national production capacity.