In the 1940s, as a result of the Second World War, the economy was in a dire state with the working and lower classes being the most vulnerable. There were major food scarcities and the cost of living became a heavy burden. Community based organizations grew as people mobilised for the provision of basic needs.
In 1946, a non-racial Women’s Food Committee was formed. The leadership was composed of the working class. On the 21st of May 1946, women decided to take action against hoarders. They went to wholesalers and shops that were suspected of hoarding food – in the end these entities gave up bags of rice and sugar to the protestors. The raids continued into the week.
The motto of the Women’s Food Committee was “Today we fight for food, tomorrow for the vote, and then freedom for all.”