Food insecurity and coping strategies of low‐income households in Tshwane, South Africa

Abstract This study used principal component analysis to provide targeted policy interventions in response to livelihood coping strategies adopted by low‐income households in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa. The empirical findings are categorized into four food‐coping strategy groups. The first group comprises households that depend on begging and borrowing to survive. The second group comprises households who use credit to purchase food and subsequently restrict their meals or skip them altogether. The third group comprises households that frequently borrow money to purchase food. These households prioritize buying necessities and sticking to a budget. These households also resort to selling assets to cushion against income shocks. The final group comprises households that do not have food gardens and rely on buying cheap, undesired food that they eat in smaller portions during their meal times. These findings raise concerns about the need for policies that increase household income and food access for the vulnerable urban population. Raising awareness about healthy and nutritious foods that can be obtained at a lower cost is also essential.