By Dylan Bettencourt
- Prices for beef tripe jumped by 65 percent between April last year and April this year, a report shows.
- The cost of chicken feet and beef liver increased fast, leaving poor households with very few cheap options for meat.
Low-income families in South Africa are running out of cheap food choices. When regular meat becomes too expensive, people usually buy cheaper cuts like beef tripe, gizzards and chicken feet. But the prices of these safety net items are shooting up.
A new report shows a massive price jump for cheap meat over the past 12 months. The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group tracks food prices at supermarkets and butcheries in poor communities. Its April 2026 Household Affordability Index shows that the cheapest meat cuts are getting more expensive faster than almost any other food.
A 2kg portion of beef tripe cost R78.94 in April 2025. By April 2026, the price jumped to R129.94. This is a 65% increase in one year.
Gizzards also went up fast. A 2kg pack jumped from R89.94 to R145.89, which is a 62% increase. Beef liver prices increased by 45% to R150.94, and chicken feet went up by 43% to R104.94.
These price hikes are hitting families hard. The report warns that poor households rely on these cuts for protein when they cannot afford chicken or beef.
A 10kg pack of frozen chicken portions in Pietermaritzburg now costs R532.43. This is 25% more than it cost a year ago. Beef prices went up by 5% to R216.44 for 2kg.
The overall cost of living is also squeezing families. The total household food basket in Pietermaritzburg reached R5,251.02 in April 2026. This is an increase of R206.56 compared to April 2025.
The group warns that there are no cheaper options left below offal. Many families are now forced to give up meat completely so they can afford other basic needs.
Pictured above: Generic cuts of meat on display at a local butchery.
Image source: Pexels
