Household hunger reaches highest level since 2010 – SA Food Security Index 2026 

Released this week, the third South African Food Security Index highlights the realities of food security in South Africa and the growing pressure on vulnerable households.

The independent research tracks how food security is changing over time, where challenges are deepening and which households are most affected.

Key findings of the report, produced by a research team which include economists from Stellenbosch University, include:  

• By March 2026, housing and utilities contributed 39% of headline inflation, more than double food’s 19% share.  

• Household vulnerability to hunger reached its highest level since 2010. 

• Rural female-headed households remain the most vulnerable, with the share below the food poverty line rising from 38.4% in 2023 to 41.7% in 2025.  

• Limpopo performed surprisingly well in 2025, while the Northern Cape and North West recorded significantly lower values as hunger rose and food variety fell.

Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/d9YsNNij