Food basket. SOUTH African households are grappling with significant challenges related to food and water security.The latest General Household Survey (GHS) 2024 released by Statistics South Africa, shows that approximately 22% of households reported struggling to access enough food.
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SOUTH African households are grappling with significant challenges related to food and water security.
The latest General Household Survey (GHS) 2024 released by Statistics South Africa, indicates that nearly one in four households reported inadequate or severely inadequate access to food during the year.
This is while more than half of households experienced water supply interruptions as water woes across the country continue.
According to the survey, approximately 22% of households reported struggling to access enough food.
While South Africa produces sufficient food nationally, affordability remains a challenge for many families. The data suggests that economic pressures, including unemployment, stagnant income growth and rising living costs, continue to affect household food security.
So what is food insecurity? A common misconception is that food insecurity means that households go without food entirely, but this is not necessarily the case. Food insecurity refers to inconsistent or insufficient access to food to meet daily needs.
Provincial disparities remain pronounced, with poorer provinces and rural households generally more vulnerable to inadequate access.
The survey also reveals a troubling trend in water reliability.
Although a large majority of households have access to an improved water source, over 50% reported experiencing water interruptions.
Over the past two decades, infrastructure expansion increased formal access to water. However, maintaining aging systems, preventing breakdowns and ensuring consistent supply have emerged as growing concerns.
In some areas, households resort to fetching water when supply is disrupted, which affects daily routines, schooling and household productivity.
The General Household Survey measures household experience rather than administrative targets.
That means the figures reflect how residents experience food access and water reliability in practice, not simply whether infrastructure exists.
The combination of food insecurity and unreliable water supply places pressure on household stability. Water interruptions can also compound food insecurity, affecting cooking, sanitation and small-scale food preparation.
The findings come amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures and municipal infrastructure challenges.
While progress has been made over time in expanding housing and service access, the survey data suggests that reliability and affordability are becoming central issues in the country’s socio-economic landscape.