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'South Africa is stumbling into a hunger pandemic'

South African children face stunted growth due to hunger, says a local pressure group calling for tax on chicken and eggs to be removed to help families feed the next generation.

A South African group, Fair Play Movement, is asking that VAT be removed from chicken so that families can manage the cost-of-living crisis better.

According to Fair Play Movement, the cost of food is not just hurting the majority of poor people - causing stunted children in mostly rural places - but, they say, a third of middle class families are now borrowing to feed themselves.

Newsday's James Copnall heard more from Francois Baird of the South African group which is calling for government intervention to remove tax on certain chicken portions and eggs to help keep prices lower for consumers and increase sales for farmers.

"South Africa is stumbling into a hunger pandemic. Mothers don't get enough protein when they're pregnant.

"We've already had promises that food producers would pass on the lower prices [if taxes are reduced]."

(Pic: Muslims and other organisation provide hot meals to the destitute and homeless during the holy month of Ramadan in Cape Town, South Africa; Credit: Reuters)

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