media breakfast
Press statement
10th May
2016
Unite against hunger
national Peoples speak
out and bread march
Building
Unity to Confront the Climate and Food Crises
The SAFSC welcomes and endorses the
‘Break Free From Coal’ campaign, the protests planned by Earthlife Africa
and the actions of the Minining Affected
Communities Network against extractivism and mining pollution. The mining of
coal, climate change and food system crisis are connected. South Africa needs a
united peoples movement to confront these challenges and secure climate
justice. The SAFSC will be supporting all the activities announced today on
this platform. We also welcome the support and solidarity of partner
organisations on this platform.
Climate
Change, Drought and Food Price Increases
South Africa’s El Nino induced drought is exposing serious
weaknesses in the states response. While South Africa has experienced El Nino
induced droughts before, this particular drought is linked to the worsening climate
crisis. Last year the world’s temperature increased by 1 degree celsius and
recorded the hottest temperatures on the planet. This trend is
continueing. While the state is
responding to commercial farmers it is not doing enough for smalls scale
farmers and poor communities. The state is also not using the Disaster
Management Act in a way that mobilises society to learn about the climate
crisis, strengthen water management plans and draw out lessons for the future.
South Africa’s drought is affecting
millions of people and increasing starvation. Coal burning is killing us.
Climate change is further exposing the problems with a corporate controlled
food system. Before the drought 14 million people went to bed hungry and about
46% were food insecure. Many more are suffering now as food prices have been
increasing. All measurements of food prices are showing a dramatic increase in
food inflation, with year on year increase of
particularly staples. The year-on-year increase for Jan 2015 to Jan 2016
was 14.6%. The biggest increases have been in mielie meal, samp, cooking oil
and potatoes. Food profiteering denies us the right to food under the
constitution.
Moreover, food inflation has eroded the
value of social grants. According to PACSA the total of old age pension
(R1510 in April/October 2016) comes
short in terms of the current cost of
a food basket (R1879.24 in February
2016). Moreover, a minimum food basket (household of 4) costs R2420.77 in
February 2016. In South Africa 27 millon people earn less than R3000 per month
and with food price increases, particularly of staples, hunger is going to
worsen. Already 1 in 5 children suffer from malnutrition and
learning disabilities. Food profiteering undermines the future of our children
Bread
Price Scam
Bread prices have also been increasing in
the context of the drought. A loaf of brown (700g) increased by 5.73 % and a loaf of white by
5.34%. South Africans mainly eat bread on a daily basis. Food corporations make
millions from bread which contributes to profits, bonuses and hugh salaries for
management. At the same time, food industry workers earn low wages and are
mainly outsourced.
All studies show bread and food prices
are increasing because of the drought and a corporate controlled food system.
At the same time, Grain South Africa has confirmed that imported wheat is
cheaper than local wheat. Bread prices should not be going up but should be
declining. We are experiencing a ‘bread price scam’. The Competition Commission
has failed to stop this. Some retailers believe by keeping bread price
increases below food inflation is acceptable. We reject this profiteering given
the crisis facing our society. Its time
for peoples power, through non-violent action,
to end food profiteering
Towards
Food Sovereignty Alternatives
South Africa needs to diversify its food
system and ensure the people can control the food system to survive the climate
crisis. In this regard we want to announce three actions that would advance a
food sovereignty pathway for South Africa and compliment the actions announced
by our partners.
(I)
National
Peoples Drought Speak Out
This platform will give an opportunity to those ignored by
the media and government to give voice to their suffering. Small scale farmers,
rural communities, the urban poor and the hungry, as well as, food experts who will
be giving testimony on the impact of the drought and the need for urgent food
sovereignty alternatives. Details:
Date:
Friday, 13th May
Time:
9am – 1pm
Location:
Women’s Jail, Consitutional Hill
(II) National Bread March
The
SAFSC will lead a national Bread March to draw attention to the hunger being
induced by the corporate controlled food system and the need for food
sovereignty alternatives.
Date:
Friday, 13th May
Time:
1pm
Route:
Starts Women’s Jail, Consitutional Hill,
proceeds to WITS University at which a memorandum will be handed over
and then to Pick n Pay corner Jorissen and Jan Smuts to hand over a memorandum
to food corporation CEOS, Ministers and Chapter 9 institutions.
(II)
Local Bread Marches
In
coming weeks the SAFSC will be rolling out localised and non-violent bread
marches to bread corporations and food retailers. We will use these marches to
create a platform to communicate the demands from the National Drought Speak Out
and Bread March.
Unite
against Hunger and Food Profiteering!
Turn
Down the Heat Through Food Sovereignty
Forward
to a Peoples Movement for Food Sovereignty and
Climate
Justice Now!
Contact
:
Davine
Cloete: 071 5922 361
Vishwas
Satgar: 082 775 3420
Xolisa
Bangani: 081 414 8411
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