Note to Editors: Attached is a soundbite in English and Afrikaans by DA MPL, Bronwynn Engelbrecht.
Residents in Gauteng are in danger of becoming food insecure due to the lack of support provided by the Gauteng Provincial Government to farmers. The latest data on the agriculture sector in the province paints a grim picture. The latest GDP data reveals that agriculture recorded a staggering 28.8% decline in the third quarter of 2024, pulling GDP growth down by 0.7 percentage points. Agriculture is the backbone of food security and has plummeted not just due to the drought in the province but also due to the current governments’ inability to plan and invest in this sector.
This comes at a time when 25.3% of Gauteng households report experiencing hunger, according to the 2021 General Household Survey. At the same time, 19% of Gauteng households without employed members face severe food insecurity, a problem compounded by government inefficiency in fostering economic growth. This dual crisis of agricultural decline and food insecurity is not just a statistic —it is a daily struggle for families in Gauteng who are unable to afford basic groceries.
Food insecurity in Gauteng is a result of years of mismanagement, failed policies, and neglect by the current government. Farmers have been unable to produce essential crops like maize, soya beans, and wheat, further exacerbating food inflation. Farming is a very difficult industry, and farmers are plagued by many uncertainties and dependant on the environment where natural disasters like drought take a huge toll. In addition, the high input costs with high labour and fertiliser costs have created a non-conducive environment for new entrants.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be submitting questions to the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa to determine what measures what will be put in place to ensure that support is given to farmers in the form of equipment and training.
A DA led provincial government in Gauteng will ensure that no family is left to face hunger by enabling effective and efficiently run food banks. An abundance of jobs can be created by establishing much needed agro-processing centres and by investing in farming technologies and climate resilient crops we will ensure that agriculture thrives, even in challenging conditions. In addition, we will ensure that the conditional grant allocated to assist farmers is used to assist farmers in procuring equipment. The conditional grant will also be used to ensure that farmers receive the necessary training needed to effectively run their farms.
The DA is ready to lead. Gauteng deserves a government that prioritises food security, empowers its farmers, and creates opportunities for its people. Under DA leadership, we will restore dignity to households, reignite the agricultural sector, and build a province where every family can thrive.