In the current period, September - December 2020, 9.34 million people in South Africa (16% of the population analysed) faced high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) and required urgent action to reduce food gaps and protect livelihoods. Of the nine provinces of South Africa, eight: Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng, North West, Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Western Cape, were classified in Stressed (IPC Phase 2), and are in need of action for livelihood protection, while Kwa-Zulu Natal Province is classified in Crisis (IPC Phase 3). South Africa’s deteriorating food security is mainly driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation measures as well as high food prices, drought and economic decline.  

In the projected period (January - March 2021), 11.8 million people (20% of the analysed population) are expected to be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3). Of the nine provinces analysed, seven provinces, namely Limpopo, North West, Gauteng, Free State, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape, will likely fall into Crisis (IPC Phase 3), while the Mpumalanga province and Northern Cape will remain in IPC Stressed (IPC Phase 2). A large proportion of the South African population will likely need urgent action to reduce food gaps and protect livelihoods. 

• Urgent provision of emergency actions to save livelihoods of populations estimated to be in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), 1.1 million, is required.
• Urgent action is required to reduce food consumption gaps and protect livelihoods for populations in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).
• KwaZulu-Natal needs urgent attention as the whole province is classified in Crisis (Phase 3) in the current period.
• Modalities and packages for identification and support of informal businesses that were affected by COVID-19 should be explored, especially for households in urban areas
• Resilience building and livelihoods protection interventions should be implemented and targeted to populations that are in Stressed (Phase 2) in order to avoid the worsening of their food security situation; especially when the temporary social safety nets are removed.
• Efforts towards intensifying the agricultural production at all scales (subsistence, smallholder and commercial) should be prioritised more than ever before.
• Possibility of linking the voucher/food parcel system with the production input packs should be explored.
• Government should consider continuing supporting households with the COVID-19 increase of social grants and with the unemployment grant beyond the six months period that was stipulated. Support should be for the entire 2020/21 consumption period. However, other livelihood resilient building strategies of communities as a complimentary measure and exit strategy from the COVID-19 unemployment grant should be considered.
• The program or strategy for addressing urban poverty factoring nutrition issues should be developed.
• The current rural poverty strategies should be strengthened.
• Creation and strengthening of early warning systems to provide timely information should be prioritised.
• Proper targeting and monitoring of social protection programmes should be ensured.
• Strengthen measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• Monitoring of nutrition situation.
• Scale up diversified livelihoods programmes for improved self-reliance, resilience building and social protection to all vulnerable communities classified under Phases 2, 3 and 4.
• Strengthen and support initiatives addressing cross-cutting issues of food security and nutrition status of vulnerable groups.
• Promote good nutritional practices at household levels through nutrition-sensitive activities such as home gardening and educational awareness on food and water safety.