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South Africa continues to face significant food and water security challenges. According to Statistics South Africa’s General Household Survey, an estimated 15% of the population experienced hunger in 2023, while more than a quarter of households struggled to access sufficient food. More recent estimates indicate that up to 49% of South Africans face some form of food insecurity, highlighting the scale of the country’s ongoing food access challenges. The country also scored 15.1 on the Global Hunger Index, indicating a moderate level of hunger and ranking South Africa 74th out of 123 countries assessed. At the same time, South Africa is among the world’s driest countries, with climate change, population growth, ageing infrastructure and inadequate water conservation contributing to recurring water shortages that disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
Islamic Relief South Africa (IRSA) is committed to improving access to nutritious food and clean water for communities facing hardship. Through emergency assistance and long-term development initiatives, we work to strengthen food security, improve water access, and support communities in building resilience for the future.
Food insecurity affects millions of people across South Africa, placing families at risk of hunger and malnutrition. IRSA supports vulnerable households through both immediate relief and sustainable development interventions.
Our food security initiatives include:
By combining short-term relief with sustainable solutions, we help families meet their immediate needs while creating opportunities for long-term food production and self-reliance.
Islamic charitable giving plays an important role in supporting vulnerable communities across South Africa and the region.
Each year during Dhul Hijjah, IRSA facilitates the distribution of fresh, high-quality meat to families experiencing food insecurity. By working with local suppliers and adhering to strict quality standards, the programme not only provides nutritious food but also supports local economies.
In 2025, more than 37,500 people in South Africa benefited from Qurbani distributions. Across Southern Africa, a further 8,000 people in Lesotho were reached.
During Ramadan, IRSA collects and distributes Zakat Al-Fitr to help vulnerable families access nutritious food before Eid. Through this programme, communities receive timely support during a period of increased household expenses.
In 2025, IRSA’s Zakat Al-Fitr programme helped provide food assistance to more than 16,000 people across South Africa.
Access to clean and reliable water remains a challenge for many communities across South Africa. Water shortages affect health, education, livelihoods and overall wellbeing, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas.
IRSA’s water, sanitation and hygiene programmes help communities gain sustainable access to safe water while promoting healthier living conditions.
Our interventions include:
These initiatives help improve public health, strengthen resilience and restore dignity for communities facing water insecurity.
In 2023, IRSA launched the Rural Access to New Opportunities for Water and Food project to service and rehabilitate 19 boreholes originally installed in water-scarce communities across KwaZulu-Natal in 2018.
As part of this programme, IRSA also installed an additional 10 boreholes, distributed food vouchers and food hampers, and facilitated water, sanitation and hygiene education sessions at schools, religious institutions and other community spaces.
Running until 2025, this comprehensive initiative benefits more than 310,000 people across KwaZulu-Natal by improving access to safe water, strengthening food security and promoting healthy practices.
Like many rural communities across South Africa, residents of Ematimatolo in KwaZulu-Natal faced ongoing water shortages for years. Days without running water made it difficult for families to cook, clean, grow food and meet their most basic needs. Among those affected was Saleem, the caretaker of the local mosque, who struggled to support his family amid rising food costs and limited income opportunities.
Through Islamic Relief South Africa’s Rural Access to New Opportunities for Water and Food (RANOWF) project, a community borehole was rehabilitated, restoring reliable access to water and creating new opportunities for residents.
For Saleem, access to water became more than a solution to a daily challenge. It enabled him to establish a thriving food garden where he grows tomatoes, onions, cabbage and chillies. What began as a way to provide food for his household soon became a source of income, allowing him to sell surplus produce within the community.
“The borehole has been able to help the community so much because we had been facing water problems for a very long time,” says Saleem. “Now, we are no longer worried about water. The mosque is happy, and the community is also happy.”
Today, Saleem also shares his knowledge with neighbours, encouraging others to establish their own food gardens and strengthen their household food security. His story demonstrates how sustainable access to water can do more than meet an immediate need. It can create opportunities, improve livelihoods and help communities build a more resilient future.
Read Saleem’s full story and learn how access to water transformed his community.
Food and water security are fundamental building blocks for healthy, resilient communities. Through a combination of emergency assistance, sustainable development initiatives and community partnerships, Islamic Relief South Africa continues to help families access the resources they need to survive, thrive and build a better future.
Islamic Relief continues to expand programmes that address the urgent need for clean water, safe sanitation, and sustainable food systems in vulnerable communities both in South Africa and around the world.
These initiatives help restore dignity, improve health, and create opportunities for families to build stronger and more secure futures.
For a detailed overview of our water, including the different types of projects implemented and their long-term impact, download the brochure below.
[Download the Water Brochure]