The first Millennium Development Goal on the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger is an
acknowledgement that poverty and food shortages exist in many countries. A report by the Food
and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in 2008 indicates that there was an increase in the number
of people who were subject to “chronic hunger” internationally between the years 1990 to 2007
(du Toit, 2011, p.1). The South African Constitution, 1996, highlights in section 27 that every
citizen has the right to food, water and social assistance. However, there are still people who
experience food shortages in their households even though the government provides social relief
of distress to needy households. The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of social
workers at the Department of Social Development (DSD), Johannesburg Metropolitan area,
about the use of social relief of distress as an effective strategy to reduce food insecurity. The
study was qualitative and exploratory in nature. A sample consisting of 8 participants and 2 key
informants was selected using non-probability purposive sampling. The data was collected using
face to face semi-structured interviews. With the permission of the participants, a tape recorder
was used to capture the interviews. The collected data was analysed using thematic content
analysis. The study revealed that the link between social relief of distress and the reduction of
food insecurity is that social relief of distress reduces the vulnerability of poor households to
food insecurity. Some of the views in the study revealed that the social relief of distress is
effective in addressing food shortages while others questioned the sustainability of the
programme. Furthermore, the study also revealed that the lack of partnerships between different
state departments poses as a challenge. It is envisaged that the findings of the study will make a
contribution to knowledge on social assistance and specifically how social relief of distress can
effectively contribute towards the reduction of food insecurity. It is also hoped that the
recommendations that emerged from the study will also be useful in guiding the policy makers
when reviewing the social relief of distress programme.