South Africans face a growing grocery crisis in 2025, as rising prices and tight budgets make it harder for families to stretch their food spending.
Introduction: South Sudan and the Food Crisis
A new study by the Socio‑Economic Rights Institute (SERI) shows a worrying reality: many South Africans can’t afford enough groceries to last a month. From rural informal settlements to urban townships, evidence reveals severe food insecurity driven by rising prices, stagnant incomes, and structural inequality.
1. The Scale of Food Insecurity
SERI’s “Food for Thought” report finds that over 23% of households experience inadequate or very inadequate access to food at some point each month.
Respondents described “moving in and out of hunger” as they wait for paychecks or social grants, sometimes resorting to donations or skipping meals.
2. Groceries Prices Are Skyrocketing
The cost of groceries in South Africa continues to rise at an alarming pace, making it harder for ordinary families to afford even the most basic food items. According to the Household Affordability Index by PMBEJD, the average cost of a basic food basket increased from approximately R5,300 to R5,420 in April 2025 alone a monthly rise of R90. While this may seem like a small increase, for households already living on the edge, it adds significant pressure to already stretched budgets.
Breaking it down further, specific items saw particularly sharp spikes: potatoes rose by 6%, tomatoes by a staggering 26%, oranges by 18%, and onions by 23% in just one month. These price hikes aren’t just seasonal they reflect deeper issues in the food supply chain and the broader economy.
Critically, these food price increases are outpacing the overall inflation rate. While South Africa’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April was recorded at 3.3%, the increase in essential grocery items has been far higher. This means that the cost of food is growing faster than general living costs, reducing real purchasing power and disproportionately affecting low-income households.
This continued upward trend in food prices in South Africa, especially on staple items, paints a troubling picture for food security in the country. It underscores the urgent need for government action, such as subsidies or policy changes, to bring relief to consumers and to stabilize the price of everyday groceries.
3. Minimum Wage No Match for Groceries
The national minimum wage (≈R4,600/month) falls far below the cost of groceries (≈R5,420), forcing households to sacrifice other essentials such as electricity, transport, or .
Most low‑income households spend over one‑third of their income on groceries, with only ≈R1,800 left after necessities insufficient for a healthy diet.
4. Coping Mechanisms: Hard Choices
A Deloitte survey shows 58% reduce food waste, 51% buy only essentials, and 39% switch to cheaper staples like beans and rice. Still, 35% report buying less food than they need:
Some residents skip meals, rely on food aid, or turn to informal markets for cheaper produce, but chronic stress and nutritional gaps persist.
5. Structural and Economic Drivers
Wage stagnation, inflation outpacing earnings, food-focused VAT increases, and supply-chain disruptions all exacerbate the **groceries** crisis in South Africa.
Supermarket pricing power has also been flagged by antitrust authorities, with concerns about price markups on staples.
6. Health and Social Consequences
When families cannot afford nutritious food, they resort to cheaper, energy-dense but unhealthy staples. This contributes to malnutrition, increased childhood stunting, and heightened risk of chronic diseases.
For poorer households, the choice is often between feeding children and paying for electricity or transport. The result: compromised health and dignity.
7. Signs of Hope and Urgent Calls for Reform
There are early signs of slowing grocery price growth, but they remain well above income increases. Some brands are adapting, while markets show signs of slight recovery.
However, experts emphasize that groceries must become integral to policy responses on inflation, wage-setting, and social grants. Suggested measures include adjusting VAT, strengthening price regulation, and increasing grant levels.
What Needs to Be Done
- Increase child & social grants to cover rising grocery costs in South Africa.
- Introduce zero‑rating or VAT exemptions for essential food items.
- Enforce anti‑price‑gouging measures in supermarkets.
- Support informal markets and local production to lower costs.
- Index the minimum wage to inflation annually.
For official data, refer to SERI and the latest Stats SA figures. Following ongoing monitoring at Reuters Africa.
