South Africa: Food prices in Joburg vs Cape Town vs Durban

Published Oct 4, 2021

Tridge summary

The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity group (PMBEJD) has published a report revealing the differing prices of core foods across South Africa's major cities. The report indicates that the average cost of a household food basket in September 2021 has increased by 9.4% from the previous year, reaching R4,219.48. This figure surpasses the affordability thresholds for families on low incomes, as the National Minimum Wage for the same period was only R3,643.92. The report also highlights that South Africa's high unemployment rate and various grants are unable to offset the rising cost of food, leading to an increase in food poverty.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity group (PMBEJD) has published its September report on South Africa’s poverty lines, showing how the prices of core foods differ across the country’s major cities. The comparison tracks 17 core foods found in the shopping baskets of low-income households in South Africa, taken from the shelves of 44 supermarkets and 30 butcheries in Joburg, Cape Town and Durban. Stores in the Northern Cape and Pietermaritzburg were also tracked. The data shows that the average cost of the household food basket in September 2021 was R4,219.48. This is up by R361.14 (9.4%), from R3,856.34 a year ago (September 2020). This total basket is well beyond the affordability thresholds of families living on low incomes, the group said, noting that the National Minimum Wage for this same period was R3,643.92. While basket prices for Joburg, Durban and Pietermaritzburg declined slightly in September 2021, those in Cape Town and Springbok increased marginally, ...

Source: Businesstech