Journal of Food Security, 2021, Vol. 9, No. 2, 46-55 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/jfs/9/2/2 Published by Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/jfs-9-2-2 Food Security in Urban Cities: A Case Study Conducted in Johannesburg, South Africa Michael Rudolph 1,* , Florian Kroll 1 , Evans Muchesa 1 , Mark Paiker 2 , Paul Fatti 3 1 Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE), University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa 2 DMSA, Johannesburg, South Africa ³University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa *Corresponding author: Received February 19, 2021; Revised March 26, 2021; Accepted April 06, 2021 Abstract The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of food insecurity in greater Johannesburg metropole (South Africa). A total of 1000 households were interviewed using standardised food insecurity scaling and scoring metrics. Findings revealed that 34% of households experienced food insecurity and almost 60% spent R1000($57) or less on food per month. Only half of respondents reported adequate food provisioning throughout the year. Many households frequently bought less preferred foods or only what was necessary and almost 50% borrowed food or money to cope with food insecurity. Appropriate interventions to alleviate food and nutrition security are essential. Keywords: food security, City of Johannesburg, urbanisation, nutrition, household, hunger, sources, access Cite This Article: Michael Rudolph, Florian Kroll, Evans Muchesa, Mark Paiker, and Paul Fatti, “Food Security in Urban Cities: A Case Study Conducted in Johannesburg, South Africa.” Journal of Food Security, vol. 9, no. 2 (2021): 46-55. doi: 10.12691/jfs-9-2-2. 1. Introduction A detailed knowledge on food security in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) is poor [1]. There is no recent, comprehensive, and representative data on the food security status of CoJ residents [2]. Studies have been conducted in selected locations in Greater City of Johannesburg and revealed the following general insights [1,3,4,5]: Between half and three-quarters of people in poor areas are affected by food insecurity. This translates into as many as 2.2 million people in the CoJ municipality, based on recent population estimates and the 2015 upper-bound poverty line of R992 per person per month [6,7]. The levels of food insecurity vary significantly, depending on the neighbourhood, time of year, and broader economic trends including employment, food price increases, and currency fluctuations [8]. Food sourcing is diverse, with most households accessing foods through supermarkets, albeit infrequently, and a large proportion accessing food frequently through informal trade [2]. Households living in informal settlements and those living in remote peri-urban areas far from job opportunities and markets are most likely to be food insecure. Dietary diversity is poor for at least a third of households, particularly the poorest and those living in informal settlements. Diets show an emphasis on starches, sugar, meat and sweetened beverages. This implies long- term health problems related to non-communicable diseases and infectious illnesses alike [4,9]. The South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES) study showed that informal urban areas were particularly severely affected by food insecurity, with 32% of households at risk and 36% experiencing hunger [10]. The survey data were used to inform the location of pilot sites for the implementation of a Food Resilience Programme but weaknesses in the research methodology used in this study limited the usefulness of the data. Demographic information showed that income poverty in the sampled areas appeared pervasive, with over half of households earning less than ZAR4000 a month to support approximately three persons per household [11]. Based on the limitations and shortcomings of previous studies, there was a need to carry out more regular food security monitoring in the City of Johannesburg, using standardised and comparable survey instruments, particularly as population demographics are ever-changing and progression in economic developments [2]. Engagement with urban food security and the food system is essential for the city based on the National Policy on Food and Nutrition Security for South Africa that was gazetted in August 2013 [12]. Although there is no clear local government mandate to engage with urban food security [13], there are several policy frameworks at national, provincial and local government level, which anchor this mandate. These include the Integrated Food Security Strategy [14], the Zero Hunger Strategy Gauteng Growth and Development Strategy 2040, and City of Johannesburg 2012/16 Integrated Development Plan [4]. The National Government Outcome 7 Delivery Agreement frames food security policy by addressing food