66% of South Africans couldn’t afford three meals a day in the past couple of months
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GUEST – Annaline van der Poel - head of new business at Debt Rescue Africa
A recent survey conducted by Debt Rescue revealed that two-thirds of the nation are now struggling to put enough food on the table to feed their families – with 66% of South Africans saying that they have had to skip a meal in recent months as they couldn’t afford three meals a day.
Against this backdrop the news that the household food basket increased by R25.48 (0.5%), from R5 056.45 in June 2023 to R5 081.94 in July 2023, is akin to rubbing salt into an open wound. Even more disturbing is that the items which increased in price by 5% or more are items like white sugar (7%), potatoes (8%), eggs (5%), and fish (7%) – all staple foods needed to serve up a decent meal. The Household Affordability Index is conducted by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity group (PMBEJD), and tracks food price data from 47 supermarkets and 32 butcheries across the country on a month-by month basis.
A recent survey conducted by Debt Rescue revealed that two-thirds of the nation are now struggling to put enough food on the table to feed their families – with 66% of South Africans saying that they have had to skip a meal in recent months as they couldn’t afford three meals a day.
Against this backdrop the news that the household food basket increased by R25.48 (0.5%), from R5 056.45 in June 2023 to R5 081.94 in July 2023, is akin to rubbing salt into an open wound. Even more disturbing is that the items which increased in price by 5% or more are items like white sugar (7%), potatoes (8%), eggs (5%), and fish (7%) – all staple foods needed to serve up a decent meal. The Household Affordability Index is conducted by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity group (PMBEJD), and tracks food price data from 47 supermarkets and 32 butcheries across the country on a month-by month basis.
