The Household Affordability Index revealed a mixed bag of outcomes for South African families struggling to make ends meet.
Data was released on Wednesday by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group (PMBEJD) that showed in February 2025, the average cost of the Household Food Basket was R5 313.22.
While the food basket price showed a decrease of R120.48 (-2.2%), from R5 433.70 in January 2025 to R5 313.22 in February 2025, year-on-year the price had increased.
Year-on-year, the average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R35.92 (0.7%), from R5 277.30 in February 2024 to R5 313.22 in February 2025.
Food pricing trends in February 2025.
In February, of the 44 foods tracked in the basket, 11 foods increased in price, and 32 foods decreased in price, and 1 food, oranges, remained unchanged, it still holding its November proxy price.
The PMBEJD said that food prices dropped across the egg and dairy categories, vegetables, meats, the canned foods of fish and beans, cremora, sandwich fillers of peanut butter, jam and polony, and both white and brown bread.
This follows similar trends to the price drops in the basket in February 2024.
This time last year, February 2024 prices also dropped down off the January 2024 prices; and similarly to this year – all food baskets in all areas tracked decreased in price.
However, whilst many foods dropped in price this month, the core staple foods of maize meal, rice, cake flour, white sugar, samp, and cooking oil maintained their prices, with very little movement either up or down (with changes in percentages either 0% or 1%).
"It is these core staple foods which carry the highest rand cost in the food basket, and which women tell us are purchased first because these foods secure households against hunger. For affordability to be eased, the core staple foods within the household food basket would need to come down by much higher amounts," the PMBEJD said.
The 17 foods tracked as a separate index of foods which women prioritise and purchase first came to a total cost of R2 888.74 in February 2025.
These foods also showed a decrease of R47.89 (-1,6%) drop, in February; the cost of these critical foods still, for most South African households, relative to household income, are unaffordable.
"Unless these core foods come down in price or wages go up, it is likely that households will struggle in 2025, as they have done so in previous years."
Foods in the basket which increased in price in February 2025 by 5% or more, include: margarine (5%).
Foods in the basket which increased in price in February 2025 by 2% or more, include: stock cubes (3%), and apples (2%).
Foods in the basket which decreased in price in February 2025, by 5% or more, include: potatoes (-7%), onions (-7%), chicken feet (-6%), beef (-5%), carrots (-13%), butternut (-8%), bananas (-11%), peanut butter (-5%), and white bread (-5%).
Foods in the basket which decreased in price in February 2025, by 2% or more, include: sugar beans (-3%), curry powder (-4%), tea (-2%), full cream milk (-3%), Maas (-3%), eggs (-4%), chicken gizzards (-3%), chicken livers (-4%), wors (-4%), beef tripe (-4%), spinach (-2%), cabbage (-3%), green pepper (-4%), canned beans (-2%), apricot jam (-2%), and brown bread (-2%).
The Joburg basket decreased by R61.31 (-1.1%) month-on-month, and increased by R88.54 (1.7%) year-on-year, to R5 446.07 in February 2025.
The Durban basket decreased by R197.00 (-3.6%) month-on-month, and decreased by R8.88 (-0.2%) year-on-year, to R5 254.06 in February 2025.
The Cape Town basket decreased by R117.84 (-2.2%) month-on-month, and increased by R139.69 (2.7%) year-on-year, to R5 250.75 in February 2025.
The Springbok basket decreased by R22.94 (-0.4%) month-on-month, and increased by R176.30 (3.2%) year-on-year, to R5 750.19 in February 2025.
The Maritzburg basket decreased by R141.42 (-2.8%) month-on-month, and decreased by R190.00 (-3.7%) year-on-year, to R4 934.04 in February 2025.
The Mtubatuba basket decreased by R169,18 (-3,0%) month-on-month, and increased by R43.27 (0.8%) year-on-year, to R5 431.49 in February 2025.
Statistics South Africa’s latest Consumer Price Index.
Statistics South Africa’s latest Consumer Price Index for December 2024 showed that headline inflation was 3.0%, and for the lowest expenditure quintiles 1-3 it is 4.0%, 3,6%, and 3.3% respectively.
CPI Food inflation was 1.7% (for CPI Food & NAB it was 2.5%, we use the figure excluding non-alcoholic beverages). STATS SA’s Producer Price Index for December 2024 showed agriculture was 6,3%.
The National Minimum Wage is R27.58 an hour and R220.64 for an 8-hour day.
In February 2025, with 20 working-days, the maximum National Minimum Wage for a General Worker is R4 412.80.
"Dispersed in a worker’s family of 4 persons, the NMW, is R1 103.20 per person – this is below the upper-bound poverty line of R1 634 per person per month. The February 2025 average cost of a basic nutritional food basket for a family of four persons is R3 731.81. On our calculations, using Pietermaritzburg-based figures for electricity and transport, and the average figure for a minimum nutritional basket of food for a family of four, puts electricity, and transport, taking up 59,9% of a worker’s wage (R2 642.97/R4 412.80). Food is bought after monies for transport and electricity have been paid for or set aside (leaving R1 769.83 – for food and everything else), and so in February 2025, PMBEJD calculates that workers’ families will underspend on food by a minimum of 52,6% (having R1 769,83 left over after transport and electricity have been paid, and with food for the month costing R3 731.81),"the PMBEJD said.
In this scenario there is no possibility of a worker being able to afford enough nutritious food for her family.
"If the entire R1 769.83 all went to buy food, then for a family of 4 persons, it would provide R442.46 per person per month. This is below the food poverty line of R796."
In February 2025, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet was R951.64. Over the past month, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet decreased by R24.76 or -2.5%.
Year-on-year, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet increased by R13.39 or 1.4%.
In February 2025, the Child Support Grant of R530 is 33% below the Food Poverty Line of R796, and 44% below the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet (R951.64).
The February 2025 Household Domestic & Personal Hygiene Index decreased by R10.38 (-1,0%) month-on-month.
Year-on-year the household domestic and personal hygiene products index increased by R12.55 (1.2%) bringing the total average cost of basic household domestic and personal hygiene products to R1 035.25 in February 2025.
VAT and zero-rating on the household food basket
PMBEJD said it has been tracking the total cost of VAT on the household food basket for several years.
22/44 foods in the total household food basket are subject to VAT.
Foods subject to VAT make up 47% of the total cost of the household food basket in February 2025: zero-rated food items cost R2 829.12 and foods subject to VAT cost R2 484.10 (the total household food basket being R5 313.22).
VAT on the total household food basket came to R324.01 in February 2025.
This means 6.1% of the household food basket is made up of VAT.
"A tax of R324.01 is nearly the same cost of an average low-income household's requirement of 30kg maize meal per month (in February 2025, 30kg maize meal cost R341,52). A tax of R324.01 is nearly the same cost of an average low-income household’s requirement of 10kg rice (R172.25) and 10kg flour (R126.56). The total Rand-value of VAT on basic food stuffs is very high and removes money from the purse that could be spent on more food; better diversity of food; and better-quality food," the group stated.
"Low-income households are highly exposed to VAT on food, not to mention all other goods and services required to function at a basic level e.g. domestic and personal hygiene products; electricity; clothes and socks and shoes; pencils, pens and school notebooks; airtime, etc."
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