By Rorisang Modiba
- The Competition Commission says electricity is up by 85% and water by 68% since 2020, far above the inflation rate.
- School fees have gone up by 37% at primary schools and 42% at high schools since 2020, the report shows.
South Africans are paying far more for electricity, water, food and education than they were in 2020, according to a new Competition Commission report.
Electricity prices have gone up by about 85% since 2020. Water has risen by around 68% over the same period. The overall inflation rate rose by about 30% in that time. That means electricity and water prices have gone up far more than the general cost of living.
The Commission says these increases are caused by problems in the utility sector, including old infrastructure, high levels of debt and poor operations.
Food prices are also a concern. In some cases, when costs fall for producers, shops do not lower their prices quickly for shoppers. Egg prices dropped for producers in 2025, but shoppers did not see the same decrease right away. The same pattern was seen with chicken, maize meal and sunflower oil.
Healthcare and education are also becoming more expensive. Doctor consultation fees are rising faster than inflation. School fees have gone up by 37% at primary schools and 42% at high schools since 2020.
Fuel prices have been more stable recently, but new tensions in the Middle East are expected to push prices up again. This could make transport and food more expensive for South Africans.
The Competition Commission warns that unless there is better control over how prices are set, many South Africans will continue to struggle with rising living costs.
Pictured above: A family shopping.
Image source: File
