Additionally, of the 28 items, 19 recorded double-digit growth year-on-year, reflecting significant increases \u2013 and seven were over 20%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is compared to CPI Food inflation, which was 6% as of February 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Compounding the cost-of-living pressures are the recent 12.72% Eskom price increase effective as of April and the R2.30 accumulative petrol price increase since February 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eskom’s hike has pushed municipalities to draft similar double-digit increases<\/a> for July, while early indicators<\/a> show another petrol hike is on the cards for May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some households in South Africa may be able to absorb these above-inflation increases, but the PMBEJD has warned that the average worker earning the National Minimum Wage (NMW) \u2013 who are already struggling to cope – simply can’t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NMW is R27.58 an hour and R220.64 for an 8-hour day. In March 2024, with 19 working days, the maximum NMW for a General Worker is R4,192.16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The wage workers earn is not just to sustain themselves alone. It is used to support the entire family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “For Black South African workers, one wage typically must support 3.8 people. Dispersed in a worker\u2019s family of four persons, the NMW is reduced to R1,048.04 per person \u2013 this is below the upper-bound poverty line of R1,558 per person per month,” said the PMBEJD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Considering this, the Group calculated that the March 2024 cost of a basic nutritional food basket for a family of four in South Africa is R3,694.62 \u2013 a 7.7% increase from last year. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Using Pietermaritzburg-based figures for electricity and transport and the average figure for a minimum nutritional basket of food for a family of four, the Group added that these costs take up 57.9% of a worker\u2019s wage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Food is bought after monies for transport and electricity have been paid for or set aside (leaving only R1,765.24 for food and everything else). <\/p>\n\n\n\n In March 2024, the PMBEJD calculates that workers\u2019 families will underspend on food by a minimum of 52.2%<\/strong> (with R1,765.24 left after transport and electricity and food costing R3,694.62). <\/p>\n\n\n\n “In this scenario, it is unlikely that a worker will be able to afford enough nutritious food for their family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “If the entire R1,765.24 went to buy food, then for a family of four, we are looking at R441.31 per person per month. This is below the food poverty line of R760,” it said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-12-124448.png\")
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