Food security is when all people have physical, social and economic access to sufficient food to meet the needs of daily life, at all times. Food security is determined by availability, access, use and stability, all of which can be significantly influenced by interactions between income, the agricultural sector and population growth (Food and Agriculture Organization, 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 susceptible to food insecurity. Although South Africa has a high per capita income for a developing country, an annual decreasing population growth rate, and is a major food producer, an estimated 14 million people, 35% of the population, suffer from food insecurity (Vella, 2012). It may not be the largest component of South Africa's economy, but it remains an important factor influencing employment and local food supply. 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 AU$11,181.48, placing it 77th in the world, a considerably high level for a developing country (World Bank Development, 2012). However, the country is also known to have a significant shortage of skilled workers (Kirov, 2013), which contributed 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 impacts the access component of food security. The access component is the ability of a family to be able to obtain adequate food to lead a healthy and active life... middle of paper... a lack of supply that contributes to the food insecurity of 35% of the South African population. This is related to the third component of food safety, utilization. Food utilization is defined as appropriate use of food resources based on knowledge of basic care and nutrition. It can be assumed that South Africa does not use its food resources as there is sufficient supply, but 35% of the population still suffers from food insecurity. Food security is a fundamental concept in many parts of the world, especially in South Africa. . 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 sufficient access to food, water and social security (South African Constitutional Law, 1996).