Food security, urban governance and multilevel government in Africa
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Date
2021
Authors
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Publisher
Springer
Abstract
Realising the right to food requires more than an increase in food production.
Increasing access to food is equally important, so this contribution adopts a
“food systems approach”. Against the backdrop of a growing number of countries
on the continent that are decentralising powers to cities and regions, this chapter
assesses the role of local governments in South Africa with respect to food security.
It argues that food security is not just a national and/or provincial government concern,
but that the Constitution demands of municipalities to contribute to realising
the right to food. Against the backdrop of a general introduction into the division of
responsibilities between national, provincial and local government, it deploys two
arguments to make this assertion. The first is located in the jurisprudence of the
South African Constitutional Court on socio-economic rights. The second is located
in the division of powers between national, provincial and local government. This
contribution explores various linkages between a municipality’s constitutional powers
and food security. Specific emphasis is placed on the municipality’s responsibility
to regulate trade and markets as well as its responsibility to conduct spatial
planning and land-use management. The argument made in this chapter is also relevant
in other countries on the continent that combine socio-economic rights with
multilevel government arrangements.
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Keywords
Local government, Food security, Provincial government, Food-sensitive planning, Multilevel government, Right to food