SIBHEKE OSHINTSHWENI OLUNOBULUNGISWA EZINHLELWENI ZOKUDLA ENINGIZIMU AFRIKA

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice outlines the necessity and framework for a 'just transition' within South Africa's food systems. It argues that current industrial food production is characterized by deep inequalities, corporate dominance, and environmental degradation, and proposes a transition based on agroecology, fair livelihoods, and the right to nutritious food.

• South Africa's food system is marked by severe structural inequality, where a small number of large-scale farmers control most of the land while millions of small-scale farmers lack secure land rights, resources, and market access. This is linked to historical land dispossession of Black people and a lack of significant ownership change after 1994.
• Corporate power dominates the food chain, with a few large companies controlling agricultural inputs, processing, distribution, and retail markets. This profit-driven model contributes to food insecurity, with approximately one-quarter of households facing food shortages despite the profitability of large businesses.
• The industrial food system in South Africa is a significant driver of climate change, accounting for approximately 18% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. It also causes water pollution and biodiversity loss through monoculture and the heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
• A 'just transition' in food systems requires moving beyond simple 'green' changes to deep transformations. The document proposes three broad goals: establishing equitable livelihoods (including fair wages and job security for workers and land rights for small farmers), implementing agroecology to restore nature and reduce emissions, and ensuring the right to nutritious and accessible food for all.
• Several barriers hinder a just transition, including a policy focus that prioritizes electricity over food systems, the influence of large corporations on policy, and a lack of coordination between government departments. The document notes that the Agricultural Produce Markets Act of 1996 reinforced the role of private market actors over public interest.

APA

Institute for Economic Justice (n.d.). SIBHEKE OSHINTSHWENI OLUNOBULUNGISWA EZINHLELWENI ZOKUDLA ENINGIZIMU AFRIKA. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-01-ZUL-Towards-a-just-transition_Web.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Economic Justice. SIBHEKE OSHINTSHWENI OLUNOBULUNGISWA EZINHLELWENI ZOKUDLA ENINGIZIMU AFRIKA. n.d. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-01-ZUL-Towards-a-just-transition_Web.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Economic Justice |title=SIBHEKE OSHINTSHWENI OLUNOBULUNGISWA EZINHLELWENI ZOKUDLA ENINGIZIMU AFRIKA |url=https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-01-ZUL-Towards-a-just-transition_Web.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforeconomicjusticendsibheke, author = {{Institute for Economic Justice}}, title = {{SIBHEKE OSHINTSHWENI OLUNOBULUNGISWA EZINHLELWENI ZOKUDLA ENINGIZIMU AFRIKA}}, institution = {Institute for Economic Justice}, url = {https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-01-ZUL-Towards-a-just-transition_Web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }