By Anita Dangazele
- Stats SA says food inflation fell to 2.9% in April, but meat costs 9.4% more than a year ago and dairy just turned positive again.
- The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group says a minimum wage worker’s family of four is short half their nutritional food needs this month.
South Africa’s food inflation is coming down. But cheaper food is not the same as enough food.
Statistics South Africa released its Consumer Price Index for April on Wednesday. Overall inflation rose from 3.1% in March to 4%, driven mainly by the biggest monthly fuel price increase since 2008. But inside the food numbers, two things are happening at once.
The cheapest food on the shelf got cheaper. Maize meal, white rice, bread flour, porridge and basmati rice all cost less than a year ago. Annual food inflation fell for a third month running, from 3.6% in March to 2.9% in April.
The food a body needs to grow costs more. Meat inflation eased from 11.6% to 9.4%, but it is still rising. Dairy, which had been in deflation since May 2025, tipped back into positive territory in April. Frozen chicken portions are up 12% year on year. Beef liver is up 24%.
The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group tracks 44 basic foods across low-income areas in seven cities. Its April Household Affordability Index found that the cost of a basic food basket for a family of four rose R119,62 in a single month, to R3,787.34. The group links the jump to the April fuel price spike, saying South Africa’s food supply runs on diesel and the cost moves through to supermarket shelves.
For a family living on the national minimum wage, the numbers leave no room. After transport and electricity costs of R2,701.85, a minimum wage worker in April takes home R1,893.11 for everything else. A nutritionally complete food basket for a family of four costs R3,787.34. The shortfall is R1,894.23, exactly half the basket.
The Child Support Grant was increased by R20 in April to R580 per child per month. Feeding one child a basic nutritious diet costs R964.94 a month. The grant covers 60% of it.
Stats SA said the fuel spike also pushed the passenger transport services index up 3.1% in April, the largest monthly rise since July 2022.
Pictured above: Shoppers in a supermarket.
Image source: File
