A report from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) highlights the increasing burden of food costs on low-income households in South Africa. Despite minor fluctuations in overall food basket costs, the persistent high prices of essential foods, coupled with inadequate social support, are pushing families into poverty and negatively affecting child nutrition and well-being. The report highlights the impact of rising food prices on low-income families, emphasizing the rising cost of core food items, the impact of VAT on food affordability, and the inadequacy of the child support grant in providing sufficient support.
The rising cost of food continues to pose a significant challenge for low-income households, potentially exacerbating poverty and impacting the well-being of families, particularly children. According to data from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD), while there were slight fluctuations in the overall cost of the average household food basket, the prices of essential, core foods remain persistently high, forcing families to make difficult choices about their diets.
The report highlights that these core foods, which are purchased first to ensure basic sustenance, are becoming increasingly expensive relative to the total available funds in low-income households. This situation necessitates difficult trade-offs that can affect overall health and well-being. The impact on child development is significant because core foods are increasingly expensive. Less money is available for other essential foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy. The report indicates that these essential foods are critical for building strong immune systems and overall health.\Despite a slight decrease in the total cost of the average food basket in February compared to the previous months, the PMBEJD data reveals that the cost of these crucial core foods continues to be a major concern. The cost of the average household food basket decreased slightly in the month of February. The prices of core items like maize meal and other staples have increased. The report states that the cost of the average household food basket increased significantly when comparing February 2025 to February 2026. The increase in the cost of core staple foods has a negative impact on overall household health and well-being and child development. The report emphasizes that high prices lead to the exclusion of important foods from family plates. When core food prices increase, there is less money to purchase nutritionally rich foods essential for health and well-being. This forces families to make tough choices regarding their nutrition. The data also illustrates the impact of Value Added Tax (VAT) on the affordability of food, with VAT accounting for a considerable portion of the household food basket. The report shows the total rand value of VAT on basic foodstuffs is very high and removes money from the purse that could be spent on more food. The impact of VAT on the total household food basket removes valuable funds from households, putting them at a greater disadvantage. This in turn makes it harder for families to feed themselves and can have long-lasting effects.\Furthermore, the report underscores the inadequacy of social support programs, specifically the child support grant, in addressing the rising cost of food and ensuring adequate nutrition for children. The child support grant is significantly below the food poverty line and the average cost of providing a basic nutritious diet for a child. There are variations in cost based on age and gender. The child support grant does not account for the growing nutritional needs of children as they get older. As children grow older, their nutritional requirements increase, leading to higher feeding costs. The report emphasizes the growing gap between the support provided and the actual cost of meeting a child's nutritional needs. The analysis also provides a breakdown of the costs associated with feeding children of different age groups, highlighting the disparities and the need for tailored support. The PMBEJD data shows the average cost of feeding a child a basic nutritious diet was over R942 in February. Feeding a teenage boy costs over R100 more than feeding a teenage girl. The lack of increase in the child support grant exacerbates the problems that many families face. The rising cost of food combined with the inadequacy of social support programs poses a serious threat to food security and the overall health and well-being of low-income families and their children, the PMBEJD report indicates
Food Prices Poverty Child Nutrition Social Support VAT
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Read more "Why this lands now
For all the noise around launches and policy shifts, the pattern that matters most is repetition: one company acts, others follow, and eventually the exception becomes the rule.
The short version
- A report from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) highlights the increasing burden of food costs on low-income households in South Africa
- The rising cost of food continues to pose a significant challenge for low-income households, potentially exacerbating poverty and impacting the well-being of families, particularly children
- The report highlights that these core foods, which are purchased first to ensure basic sustenance, are becoming increasingly expensive relative to the total available funds in low-income households
- Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources
- LIV Golf Announces Return to South Africa in 2027 Following Successful Inaugural TournamentSouth Africa is set to host LIV Golf again in 2027, following a highly successful tournament at Steyn City
By the numbers
- The report states that the cost of the average household food basket increased significantly when comparing February 2025 to February 2026
- Announces Return to South Africa in 2027 Following Successful Inaugural TournamentSouth Africa is set to host LIV Golf again in
Questions worth asking
What should you know about Africa?
A report from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) highlights the increasing burden of food costs on low-income households in South Africa.
Why does it matter?
The report highlights the impact of rising food prices on low-income families, emphasizing the rising cost of core food items, the impact of VAT on food affordability, and the inadequacy of the child support grant in providing sufficient support.
What happens next?
The rising cost of food continues to pose a significant challenge for low-income households, potentially exacerbating poverty and impacting the well-being of families, particularly children.
All told
The details will firm up over the coming months. What is already clear is that this is unlikely to be the last we hear of it.