Africa economy
South Africa: inequalities even on the plates of the populations [3/3]
Audio 02:20
Excessive consumption of fast food can lead to various cardiovascular diseases.
© CC0 Pixabay/Pexels
By: Claire Bargelès Follow
3 mins
South Africa has been facing a worrying increase in diet-related diseases in recent years, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension.
Several factors explain this phenomenon.
Inequality in the first place prevents South African households from having the same access to healthy food.
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From our correspondent in Johannesburg,
At 61, Hilda comes regularly to this Soweto mall.
Not to shop, but to consult a doctor in a small doctor's office, hidden in a nook upstairs.
Hilda's diabetes has now stabilized, but with constant effort.
“
Healthy food is expensive
,” says Hilda.
“
It would be better if we had a little help, because you know, really, in the neighborhood, you can't find everything you want, you have to be able to move around.
So it's not easy, or rather not accessible, I would say.
»
Antoinette also took her place in the waiting room.
She knows that controlling her weight and her diabetes is much more complicated than a simple question of willpower.
"
It's easier to buy junk food, because it's cheaper
," says Antoinette.
“
And for example, the land here is sometimes too small to have a vegetable garden.
Most places around us offer fries or kotas.
You know the kotas are those big loaves.
It costs a maximum of 20 rand, so it's easy for those who don't have any money
,” she adds.
► Also to listen: South Africa: 70% of overweight women
Growing numbers
It was Dr. Bruno Pauly, a diabetes specialist, who had the idea for this practice, while working at the same time in the main public hospital in Soweto.
Over the years, he does not see the situation changing very well.
People are gaining more and more weight, and this is accompanied by lifestyle-related diseases, which leads to diabetes or hypertension.
These figures are increasing, in South Africa, but also more particularly in Soweto and in the townships.
People are consuming more sugar, and at the same time the diet of the poorest here is based almost entirely around starchy foods.
So we see a lot of diabetes in the community.
For more food justice
The collective of associations HEALA organizes awareness campaigns to call for more food justice.
“
When you have a small budget for food, you tend to buy food that can last a long time
,” says Eunice Montso, project manager.
“
Buying fruits or vegetables is considered expensive, and they cannot be stored for long.
And we even see that in some places, water is not available, so people will turn more to sodas
.
»
The South African government is also planning to increase its tax on sugary drinks, which has been in place since 2018.
This story is supported by a grant from the International Women's Media Foundation.
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