POOR COMMUNITIES FACE CHALLENGES WITH INCREASING FOOD PRICES

 Maegan-Leigh Jacobs

Picture Sourced: Maegan-Leigh Jacobs, Hanover Park

Since the COVID-19 outbreak took its toll on the nation, many households have been struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table every day. With so many people who have lost their jobs during the nationwide lockdown put in place by government; it has been a challenging time for many households to have access to food as the prices of basic goods continue to rise in local supermarkets.

It is no secret that every human need adequate access to food everyday to survive. Throughout the lockdown period the number of homeless adults and children going door to door asking for food has increased. Due to less cars being on the road, less people leaving shopping malls and restaurants, their usual roadside begging; where they made enough money to buy something to eat, had to resort to going directly door to door because most of the nation was staying home. Some non-profit organisations, churches, mosques and youth-care centres took it upon themselves to help the homeless during these unprecedented times and handout food to these pensioners and children.

Picture: Maegan-Leigh Jacobs, Hanover Park

Speaking to Nafiek Mohammed; the owner of a local food stall located in Hanover Park said “During the winter months of the lockdown period, I decided to hand out food parcels as I saw the huge need for food in the Hanover Park community. It was such a sad sight when I saw how long the que was; filled with so many small kids up until some of the eldest people in the community.”

Nafiek’s store – Niefie’s Fruit and Veg is well-known by many in the community and has been running for almost 40 years. The store has fresh fruit and vegetables available at affordable prices to ensure every member of the community is able to put food on their table. The area also doesn’t have any local supermarkets close by, therefore Niefie’s is a great help to the community.  

Picture: Niefie's Fruit & Veg, Hanover Park.

Government grants keep decreasing or staying at a standard amount for a long period of time while food prices continue to rise every year. It is a heartbreaking thought to think about the food crisis so many poor communities are facing. The food crisis that came along with COVID-19 is something that needs to be addressed by government in the same way government acted on setting out relief grants for the unemployed during lockdown.

The media holds power and acts as a voice of the voiceless, spreading awareness of the many challenges faced in different communities. The media, along with its journalists will continue to voice these concerns from the public to government and ensure Capetonian’s moving from poverty to a healthier and just food system in the Mother City.