Calls grow to scrap VAT on basic chicken cuts

South Africa’s food price debate has turned to chicken, with campaigners arguing that scrapping VAT on certain cuts could make a meaningful difference for poor households.

The Fair Play Movement, backed by the poultry industry, says chicken is the country’s most important and affordable source of animal protein and should be treated as such by the government.

Not all chicken, just the basics

Founder Francois Baird stressed that the call is not for a blanket zero-rating across all chicken products.

“We’ve asked for those chicken pieces mostly used by poor people to be zero-rated,” he said, adding that this would exclude fast-food and premium products.

According to the movement, around 66% of all meat consumed in South Africa is chicken, making it a critical part of household diets.

Child stunting ‘a scandal’

Baird linked the proposal directly to worsening child nutrition, describing current trends as alarming.

“In 2017, when we first called for this, child stunting was 27%. Now it’s 28.8%. That is simply shocking,” he said.

He argued that stunting has long-term physical, educational and mental consequences, warning that the country will ‘pay a big price’ if the problem is not addressed.

Pressure on the government and parties

The campaign is now pushing political parties to act, particularly those that supported the proposal during the 2024 election.

“Child stunting is a government responsibility,” Baird said, adding that while South Africa is food secure nationally, food insecurity is concentrated at the household level among the poor.

The movement hopes to convene political parties in the coming months to account for what steps they are taking to improve access to affordable animal protein.

For more details, listen to Baird using the audio player below: