SA families face rising food prices as affordability index reveals harsh realities

THE latest household affordability index, released by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) on Wednesday, painted a grim picture for South African families facing escalating food costs.

- YOGASHEN PILLAY

From February to March 2025, the cost of the essential household food basket increased marginally by R6.14, now totalling R536.36, a rise of 0.3%. Over the past year, the food basket’s price has surged R53.15, or 1.0% when compared to March 2025.

Representatives from civil society on Wednesday sounding alarm bells as they report that rising living costs were “crushing” communities further into the grips of poverty and food insecurity.

The PMBEJD points out that among the 44 items they track, 12 saw price increases this March, with core staples such as maize meal, rice, cake flour, white sugar, samp, beans, samp and cooking oil chief among them. “This is problematic as these items take up proportionally the most room in the household purse, and are bought first,” said Mervyn Abrahams, PMBEJD programme coordinator.

“This means that the diversity of the family diet is dependent on the real cost of the staple foods, as the more nutrient-rich foods like eggs, fresh dairy and vegetables, are only bought after the core staple foods have been secured.”

Specifically, the PMBEJD highlighted that some staple food prices have risen significantly within March 2025. Onions saw a concerning hike of 5%, while carrots and butternut surged by 15% and 7% respectively.

Meanwhile, cooking oil and various other staple items also saw price increases ranging from 2% to 4%. In contrast, some food prices dropped, notably potatoes and apples, dropping by as much as 16%.