Overview

• In a newsletter and at the Social Justice Summit, the president challenged retailers to review margins and "place humanity before profit."
• Stats SA data show food insecurity climbed from 15.8% in 2019 to 19.7% in 2023, with 15–16 million people lacking adequate access to food.
• Government points to social grants, free basic services and the School Nutrition Programme feeding over nine million learners as key supports.
• Market accountability features in the response, with the Competition Commission pursuing cases and inquiries across oils, bread, grocery, produce and poultry.
• Ramaphosa welcomed the Musa Plan and urged affordable healthy options as external pressures like energy and transport costs and droughts raise food prices.