Understanding Household Food Insecurity of Street Traders in Durban

Food insecurity in South Africa is not due to a shortage of food in the country but to inadequate access to food by poor individuals and households. Many people, who lost their jobs or can't find suitable jobs for various reasons, revert to street trading amongst others as a survival strategy. There is limited information on understanding the food security status and strategies used by street traders and their households in Durban. This study aimed at understanding the extent of food insecurity among street traders in Durban. The research was conducted with a sample of 120 people.Its findings confirmed that the income generated was R2000 per month at most, which in turn was to be shared with an average of 4 members of their respective households. Consequently, the majority of street traders' households were food insecure. Limited income compromised the quality of their food dominated by energy dense food; hence 59.2% suffered from lifestyle diseases. The study recommended more studies in this field, the extension of the Isipingo census to the entire municipality and the decriminalization of street trading by the municipality in order to improve their food security situation.