In 2023, Bhekisisa and the DG Murray Trust teamed up to publish a piece arguing if food producers and sellers work together, they could make 10 stable foods, such as maize meal and eggs cheaper. Buy-in from the government could cut costs by another fifth.
In recent years, the number of children in South Africa with not enough food to eat has risen sharply three in ten kids are stunted before their fifth birthday because they eat too little of the right food, which means theyre too short for their age and they develop slower than other children.
David Harrisons op-ed sparked high-level talks about how to make food cheaper at treasury, the presidency and Nedlac. And it led to tens of TV and radio interviews.
Harrisons solution to malnutrition was ten best buys a simple idea that would see the government and the food industry team up to cut the cost of 10 staple foods by up to 20.
Manufacturers and sellers would drop prices on milk powder, eggs, dried beans and lentils, soya mince, fortified maize meal, rice, peanut butter and tinned sardines. Government would match the discount. Civil society would spread the word. Families would be able to afford healthier meals.
A year later, Harrison challenged politicians ahead of the 2024 national election in another Bhekisisa op-ed and months later, he took on an industry still slow to change.
Intodaysnewsletter, Anna-Maria van Niekerk explains how this op-ed made the presidency talk.Sign up today.