- Phumeza, a Gqeberha domestic worker earning R3,500 a month, says her salary no longer covers food, transport and household needs.
- She shops at her local spaza shop, where the owner gives her discounts and lets her take groceries on credit.
Phumeza is a domestic worker in Gqeberha. She earns R3,500 a month and says that money is no longer enough to cover her needs and those of her children.
Food prices keep rising but her pay stays the same. To cope, Phumeza has cut down on what her family eats. Meat is no longer a regular part of meals.
She now buys smaller portions and makes food last for two days. Chicken is the only meat they eat because it is much cheaper than other kinds.
“I found that if we weigh chicken for R150, making sure we cut the bigger portions into smaller chunks, it goes a long way. It lasts us almost until month end,” she said.
Phumeza says the same groceries she bought last year now cost more. Maize meal, bread, cooking oil, eggs and vegetables now take up a bigger part of her salary than before.
After buying food, she says there is almost nothing left for transport.
Instead of shopping at big supermarkets, Phumeza now buys her groceries at her local spaza shop. She says the prices are better for her budget. The shop owner gives her a discount and sometimes allows her to take food on credit when money runs out.
She says the hardest part is going to work every day and still not having enough.
Many workers across South Africa face the same problem. Wages stay the same while food prices keep going up. When food takes up more of a salary, there is less money for electricity, school needs and transport.
For families like Phumeza’s, keeping the cupboard full until month end is becoming harder all the time.
Pictured above: A spaza shop.
Image source: File
