Women protest against food costs, hunger
More than 50 women, banging empty pots and carrying placards, protested at Constantia Emporium last week against the rising cost of food and growing hunger on the Cape Flats.
They blamed the government and big business for what they described as “food injustice” and its impact on them as women.
The protest was held by several community-based organisations: Security & Safety Patrol Delft, Housing Assembly, Bonteheuwel Development Forum, Hope for the Future, and the Food Sovereignty Campaign.
“We are now at the point where we realise governments are not coming to help us – food parcels never reach those who they are intended for, and we are tired of empty promises,” the organisations said in a joint statement.
“There is no food shortage in the country, but yet we don't have access and we can't afford the food,” said Henrietta Abrahams, chairwoman of the Bonteheuwel Development Forum.
“Many of us are community feeding scheme operators. It is not our job as a community to see that there is nutritious food on people’s plates. That is the job of the government, but we the poor are doing it.”
The protesters’ demands included making land and resources available for communities to start food gardens; ending policies that prioritise the exporting of nutritious foods while “degrading and unhealthy foods” are the only affordable options for working class communities; creating employment opportunities for young and middle-aged women so they are able to feed their families; and having the Department of Education bring back agricultural studies so children can learn to grow their own food.
Ms Abrahams said they had chosen to demonstrate at Constantia Emporium because it was “one of the hubs of privilege” where people were far removed from the struggles faced by those on the Cape Flats and in rural communities.
“Our people are living in backyard dwellings at the back of homes. There isn't space for a garden,” she said.
Xolisa Ngqola, a single mother of two, said her daughter, now 10, had been diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 6.
“She is on chemo treatment, but I’m unable give her medication because I can't provide a decent meal for her.”
She said she had resorted to keeping a pot of water with spices boiling on the stove to let them think food was going to be ready soon.
“Each time they asked about the food I would tell them that the food was not ready yet. They eventually fell asleep at night hungry, waiting for the food I could not provide for them.”
