Households are food secure when they have
access to the quantity and variety of food they
need throughout the year in order to live an
active and healthy life. Healthy, well-nourished
people are the result of successful social and
economic development. South Africa was found
to be food secure at national level in that it
produces its main staple foods, exports surplus
and imports what it requires to meet the
demands of its growing population (Department
of Agriculture South Africa, 2002: 08; Du Toit,
2011:4).
However, although South Africa produces
enough food at national level, this has not
guaranteed food security for all individual
households, with food insecurity being most
prevalent in informal settlements and rural
households (Bonti-Ankomah, 2001:3; Du Toit,
2011:4). In trying to overcome the problem of
food insecurity, the South African government
has introduced strategies, such as social grants,
with the aim of creating and supporting programmes
that allow households access to
sufficient food and water (Koch, 2011:4).