The 2026 Household Food Insecurity Report, offers sobering insights into the lived reality of vulnerable families struggling to survive under increasingly difficult conditions. This research represents 18 months of rigorous work and demonstrates the power of collaboration between a funder (FoodForward Foundation), a leading research institution (University of Cape Town), and an implementing NPO (FoodForward SA). The findings are compelling and deeply concerning. The report shows that: ▪️ Food insecurity is rising rapidly ▪️ More than 70% of surveyed households are food insecure ▪️ Food insecurity is chronic, not episodic ▪️ Government remains largely absent as the key enabler and collaborator required to meaningfully shift food and nutrition security outcomes. We call on government to urgently release the Food and Nutrition Security Plan for public comment and strategic implementation. We also urge serious consideration of FoodForward SA’s proposed Food Donations Policy as a practical, immediately implementable intervention. We need less rhetoric and more action. Hunger in South Africa is avoidable and solvable — yet people are starving, and children are dying because of inaction. Once you have read the report, we invite you to connect with us to support this work - whether through collaboration, food donations, or financial contributions. Visit our website to learn more about how you can get involved.