Thousands back hunger activists' demand for Shoprite price cuts on World Food Day

The Union Against Hunger (UAH) led a protest march to Shoprite Distribution Park in Centurion on World Food Day on Thursday, demanding lower prices for essential food items.

Armed with a memorandum signed by over 20,000 South Africans, the protesters called on Shoprite to act now to make food affordable for the millions struggling to survive.

Esther Padi, UAH national organiser, painted a dire picture of hunger in the country, where millions go to bed with empty stomachs and thousands of children die annually from malnutrition.

She said the protesters from different advocacy groups wanted to mark World Food Day by drawing attention to the crippling impact of soaring food prices on households.

“We believe that every South African has a Constitutional right to have access to nutritious food and water. We are saying Shoprite must play their role as the major retailer. It is not that we are not focusing on other retailers but we believe that if Shoprite drops their food prices other retailers will follow suit,” she said. 

The union is calling for reduced prices on 10 essential food items, including rice, milk, soya, eggs, and lentils.

Padi said: “Access to sufficient food and basic nutrition for children is a constitutional right in South Africa. These foods are full of protein and energy. That doesn’t mean that other foods are not important. These foods could provide high nutritional value at the lowest cost, especially for families living below the poverty line.”

The protesters handed over a memorandum to Shoprite, highlighting the company's significant role in the country's food market. 

They mentioned that with the company’s sales of R257 billion and a net profit of R7.6 billion in the financial year ending July 2025, Shoprite can certainly afford to make food more affordable.

Palesa Ramolefe, one of the organisers, said a memorandum with approximately 20,000 signatures from across the country was submitted in support of their demands.

“If they don't respond within seven working days, we will have no choice but to escalate our action, and our members will picket outside Shoprite supermarkets nationwide,” she warned.

Protesters urged Shoprite to lead by example in making food more affordable, emphasising a need for transparency in pricing and calling on the retailer to "open its books."

The protesters also highlighted that South Africa produces enough food, but high prices leave many hungry.

Padi said: “We cannot sit and say the situation is okay. Our brothers and sisters are not working. Social grants are no longer enough for the high prices of food that these retailers are providing.”

Shoprite’s supply chain divisional head for inland division, Claude Sathyanandam, acknowledged receipt of the memorandum, adding that the company would follow its internal processes to address the issues raised.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za