{"id":805957,"date":"2025-01-07T17:03:45","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T15:03:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=805957"},"modified":"2025-01-07T18:08:12","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T16:08:12","slug":"food-prices-in-south-africa-skyrocket-over-five-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/805957\/food-prices-in-south-africa-skyrocket-over-five-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Food prices in South Africa skyrocket over five years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The rising cost of living in South Africa has become a growing concern for millions of households, with the financial strain of putting food on the table seemingly ever-increasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This has played a significant role in the country’s growing malnutrition crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity (PMBEJD) Group, the average cost of a household food basket sat at R5,383.38 in December 2024, an over 68% increase from the R3,199.86 in December 2019 \u2013 above the general inflation rate of just over 26% during the same period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their Household Affordability Indexes show that rising food prices alongside stagnant wages are putting immense pressure on South Africans already facing economic hardships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several factors have pushed up food prices in South Africa over the past several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main driver has been the rising cost of agricultural inputs like fertilisers, feed, and energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global supply chain disruptions, worsened by economic instability and political tensions, have also increased import costs for key raw materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of that, climate change and extreme weather have affected local farming, lowering crop yields and pushing prices even higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless, these dramatic increases in prices are not just statistics, but a harsh reality for South Africans, many of whom are now forced to make difficult decisions about their spending. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Families are forced to cut back on other essential, nutritionally-rich foods, ultimately impacting their health and well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking at just a core staple food basket, these prices have gone up by nearly 60%, from R1,303.18 in December 2019, to R2,078.68 in December 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The core food basket includes essential items that low-income families in South Africa prioritise to avoid hunger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These staples form the foundation of their diet and are bought first, even amid price increases, but do not provide a complete nutritional diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking at the price of core staple foods over the past 5 years in South Africa, these have been:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Core staple food item<\/strong><\/td>December 2019 price<\/strong><\/td>December 2024 price<\/strong><\/td>Change<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Maize meal (30kg)<\/td>R223.23<\/td>R332.20<\/td>+48.82%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Rice (10kg) <\/td>R83.79<\/td>R170.16<\/td>+103.08%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Cake flour (10kg) <\/td>R72.39<\/td>R125.55<\/td>+73.44%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
White sugar (10kg)<\/td>R142.39<\/td>R217.46<\/td>+52.72%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Sugar beans (5kg)<\/td>R87.59<\/td>R223.72<\/td>+155.41%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Samp (5kg) <\/td>R34.59<\/td>R67.85<\/td>+96.15%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Cooking oil (5L)<\/td>R88.79<\/td>R154.10<\/td>+73.56%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Salt (1kg)<\/td>R15.39<\/td>R15.38<\/td>-0.06%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Potatoes (10kg)<\/td>R60.74<\/td>R106.44<\/td>+75.24%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Onions (10kg) <\/td>R53.41<\/td>R89.82<\/td>+68.17%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Frozen chicken pieces (10kg)<\/td>R336.94<\/td>R403.27<\/td>+19.69%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Curry powder (200g) <\/td>R26.79<\/td>R39.52<\/td>+47.52%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Stock cubes (24 cubes x 2)<\/td>R31.18<\/td>R49.31<\/td>+58.15%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Soup (400g x 2)<\/td>R25.18<\/td>R52.25<\/td>+107.51%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Tea (250g) <\/td>R20.79<\/td>R31.67<\/td>+52.33%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Total<\/strong><\/td>R1,303.18<\/strong><\/td>R2,078.68<\/strong><\/td>+59.5%<\/strong><\/mark><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>
*Note \u2013 The December 2024 price excludes that of bread, as it was not listed in the 2019 PMBEJD Household Affordability Index.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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Graphic: Seth Thorne<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

“When the prices of core foods increase, there is less money to secure other important mostly nutritionally-rich foods, which are essential for health and well-being and strong immune systems,” said the PMBEJD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The consequences of high costs on the core foods has a negative impact on overall household health and well-being, and child development,” it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking at just some of the other items that are not on the core staple food group, most food items have seen exponential increases as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food item<\/strong><\/td>December 2019 price<\/strong><\/td>December 2024 price<\/strong><\/td>Change<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Eggs (60) <\/td>R87.59<\/td>R164.06<\/td>+87.30%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Beef (2kg)<\/td>R150.48<\/td>R179.41<\/td>+19.23%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Wors (2kg) <\/td>R119.94<\/td>R141.39<\/td>+17.88%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Tomatoes (6kg)<\/td>R84.99<\/td>R136.95<\/td>+61.14%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Carrots (5kg)<\/td>R24.74<\/td>R42.09<\/td>+70.13%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Spinach (8 bunches)<\/td>R42.61<\/td>R113.65<\/td>+166.72%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Cabbage (2 heads)<\/td>R24.98<\/td>R40.98<\/td>+64.05%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Canned beans (6)<\/td>R61.75<\/td>R91.16<\/td>+47.63%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Tinned pilchards (6)<\/td>R96.55<\/td>R153.61<\/td>+59.1%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr>
Total<\/strong><\/td>R692.64<\/strong><\/td>R1,063.30<\/strong><\/td>+53.51%<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>
Note \u2013 Numerous food items covered by the PMBEJD were omitted for brevity.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The impact this has<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The triple-blow food crisis in South Africa that we can’t ignore<\/a><\/blockquote>