Poverty and food insecurity are among the most pressing issues in South Africa and the sub-continent at the beginning of the new century. Studies reveal that not only the economic situation, but more importantly control of resources and intra-household relations determine whether households are food secure. In South Africa, there is an urgent need for research on such underlying causes of malnutrition and food insecurity, with limited empirical data available. This interdisciplinary study investigates composition, socio-economic characteristics and intra-household relations of black African households and the effects these complex indicators have on their food situation. The research is part of a broader project that studied the impact of urbanization on the health situation of black Africans in the North West Province. For the investigation in question, 166 people, mainly women, were interviewed, using qualitative and quantitative methods. Many families are disrupted, due to continuous migration and poverty, with extended networks of mostly kin being the predominant household type and half of households being female-headed. A majority of the households studied have incomes less than R1 000 per month, which is approximately 143 US $ (1 US $ was equal to R7 at the time of June 2000). About three-quarters of the households are chronically food insecure. Strong competition for and tension about scarce resources occur frequently. The 'stretching' of households over several domestic units and the search for migrant labour are among the most important coping strategies people use for improved food security and survival, as well as social networks of kin, neighbours and friends, using credit and engaging in occasional jobs. Certain female-headed households and also couples having partnership relationships, although economically worse off, achieve a better food situation through mutual cooperation and networks than male-headed households. More multidisciplinary work is needed to ascertain more exactly the economic and social status of people. This would form a sound basis for future programmes of development, in which existing networks could be used to spread resources and mobilize the poor.     «

Poverty and food insecurity are among the most pressing issues in South Africa and the sub-continent at the beginning of the new century. Studies reveal that not only the economic situation, but more importantly control of resources and intra-household relations determine whether households are food secure. In South Africa, there is an urgent need for research on such underlying causes of malnutrition and food insecurity, with limited empirical data available. This interdisciplinary study invest...     »