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By Anita Dangazele
- Stats SA shows prices went up 4.3% in July overall, but the poorest three groups faced lower rate increases.
- High transport and electricity costs leave minimum wage workers with too little money to buy enough food for families.
South Africa’s poorest households are dealing with smaller price increases than the country as a whole.
Stats SA numbers show overall prices went up 4.3% in July compared to last year. For the three poorest groups, prices went up by 2.9%, 2.8% and 3.0%. Food prices were 0.9% higher than a year ago.
New data from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group shows the average food basket dropped R50.72 in August to R5,479.80. Food got cheaper in places like Johannesburg, Springbok, Mtubatuba and Mthatha. These drops pulled the national average down. In Durban, Cape Town and Pietermaritzburg, food got more expensive.
In August, someone earning minimum wage made a maximum of R4,836.80. Transport and electricity took R3,183.45 of that wage, leaving R1,653.35.
Spread across a family of four, if every rand goes to food, each person gets R413.34 for the month. The government Food Poverty Line is R855 per person. This family falls 48% short of the minimum needed to get enough food.
Children face a similar gap. The Child Support Grant is R580 a month. This is 32% below the Food Poverty Line and 40% below the R961.96 needed to feed one child a healthy diet.
Pictured above: South Africa’s poorest households are, officially, dealing with smaller price increases right now than the country as a whole.
Image source:Pexels
