People’s Pantry Petition and Call for Solidarity Buying

South Africa has high levels of food inequality and hunger. The lock-down makes the situation even more desperate and makes it difficult to get food to communities in need. South Africans know this and are keen to assist through donations. We need to do this in a way that does not endanger any person. This can be done within current regulations through in-store people’s pantries as collection sites and ‘solidarity buying’ every time a person goes to a supermarket. Government is relying on the corporate controlled food system including supermarkets to ensure people are fed. Many South African’s cannot afford to shop in these supermarkets, deemed essential services, and supermarkets are making large profits. Most supermarkets have a reach across the country, including urban and rural areas. Government police services and the defence force are at the direct interface with communities. Sustaining a peaceful situation is proving to be difficult in many poor communities. To assist, police and soldiers can keep the peace by playing a central role in distributing solidarity goods. Both supermarket chain stores and government can make this happen together with concerned citizens and local leaders.

Demands to Supermarket Chains and Government to establish People’s Pantries:
We demand the following from supermarket chains and government:

1. Every supermarket chain to set up a people’s pantry in every store. This will be a collection system in every supermarket for consumers to donate a bag of groceries, medical and other essential goods (priced ethically). All stores to provide a specific ‘people’s pantry bag’ (preferably brown paper bag for at least 2kgs of goods), at the entrance so it is clearly visible, promotional information and signs so consumers are aware of this choice. Such an option must also be available online;
2. These supermarkets must work with government to ensure the food reaches food stressed communities. We demand the police and SANDF play a central role in distributing these ‘people pantry bags’ or solidarity goods. This must be done together with local faith-based and community leaders playing a monitoring role. Government must publicly account for this in the messaging from the Disaster Management Command Structure;
3. All urban supermarkets must send donated food to rural supermarket pantries;
4. All supermarkets to keep proper records of food quantities donated (how many bags) and information on where food is distributed. Such records must be kept and audited after the pandemic. This information must be made available to the South African Food Sovereignty Campaign when it demands such.
5. All unsold fresh goods in supermarkets should be given to workers

If you support these demands, please fill in the petition below which will be sent to all supermarket chains. If you would like to endorse as an organisation, please email courtneyrmorgan29(at)gmail.com:

Organisation endorsements can be viewed at this link.