The extent of household food insecurity in South Africa varies from 20% to 80%, though food security for all
citizens is guaranteed in sections 26 and 27 of the constitution and the country is already food secure. The
urban poor face particular challenges especially of increased urbanization, high unemployment, high crime
rate, and escalating food prices. Attempts to achieve temporary food security might entail disposal of
household assets or borrowing money or food from families and neighbors’, a situation that could jeopardize
the ability to generate income in the future. Family members may seek employment elsewhere, potentially
leading to or consolidating existing phenomenon of female headed or child headed households. This paper
presents the findings of salient factors determining three categories of food insecurity of sampled 99% black
households in Atteridgeville, Soshanguve and Tembisa in the City of Tshwane. Primary data collected from a
survey of 900 randomly selected poor households were used in the study. Only data from 827 households
were retained for analysis following the conduct of rigorous coherence tests. The food security questions
covered household members assessment of own access to food, perceived adequacy of consumption,
exposure to risk, and coping strategies. Results from our log it regression model demonstrate that while some
degree of food security exists in the study areas, this is boosted by increases in income, the education and
employment of household head. As household size, increases, especially of children below the age of five,
coupled with relying on help from others, household food security decreases.