Food security is when all individuals have physical, social and economic access to sufficient food to meet the necessities of daily life, at all moment. Food security is determined by availability, access, utilization and stability, all of which can be significantly influenced by interactions between income, the agricultural industry and population growth (Food and Agriculture Organization). agriculture, 2009). Population growth is defined as the change in the resident population over a period of time and comes from only two sources: natural increase and immigration. Developing countries, such as South Africa, are more vulnerable to food insecurity. Although South Africa has a high per capita income for a developing country, a declining annual population growth rate and is a major food producer, an estimated 14 million people, or 35% of the world's population, population, suffer from food insecurity (Vella, 2012). may not be the centerpiece of the South African economy, but it remains an important factor affecting employment and local food supplies. As a major food producer, South Africa has a high demand for workers, particularly farmers and other food producers. South Africa's per capita income is approximately A$11,181.48, placing it 77th in the world, a considerably high figure for a developing country (World Development Bank, 2012). However, the country is also known for its significant lack of skilled workers (Kirov, 2013), contributing to its high unemployment rate of 25.2% in the first quarter of 2014 (Trading Economics, 2014). Unemployment leads to a lack of income which affects the access component of food security. The access component is the ability of a household to be able to obtain appropriate food to lead a healthy and active life...... middle of paper ......a lack of supply that contributes to food insecurity of 35% of the South African population. This is linked to the third component of food security, utilization. Food utilization is defined as appropriate use of food resources based on knowledge of basic care and nutrition. South Africa can be considered not to be using its food resources because the supply is sufficient, but thirty-five percent of the population still suffers from food insecurity. Food security is an essential concept in many parts of the world, particularly in South Africa. . The year 1994 marked the end of apartheid, when South Africa became a democratic country and the issue of food security received much more attention (du Toit, 2011). Every South African citizen has the right to adequate access to food, water and social security (South African Constitutional Act, 1996).