South Africa's president prioritizes fighting poverty and rising living costs amid widespread food insecurity.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared fighting poverty and the rising cost of living top priorities for South Africa’s Government of National Unity, citing 15 to 16 million citizens facing food insecurity despite constitutional rights to food and water. The government’s social wage—around 60% of spending—includes grants, free services, and programs like the School Nutrition Programme, which feeds over nine million learners daily using locally grown food. Provincial support for food gardens and efforts to combat inflation, price-fixing, and supply chain issues are ongoing, though high unemployment, economic stagnation, and rising food prices persist.