A BLEAK picture has been painted by the recently released Household Affordability Index (HAI) report of how average South Africans are battling to put food on the table after surveys were done in Isipingo and other areas around the country.

The HAI data compiled by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) has revealed that the average household food basket has gone up considerably since the same period last year. Locally, the household food basket has been designed together with consumers living on low incomes in Isipingo, Umlazi, and the Durban CBD among other areas. It includes foods that a family of seven members typically try to secure each month.

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In a statement, the PMBEJD said food prices are tracked directly by data collectors off the shelves of selected supermarkets and butcheries.

From March to April this year, the cost of the average household food basket increased by R57.75 from R4 966.20 to R5 023.95. Year-on-year, the cost of the average household food basket increased by R481.02, from R4 542.93 in April 2022 to R5 023.95 this April.

In April, foods that increased by 5% or more include green pepper (16%), onions (11%), spinach (11%), tomatoes (8%), cabbage (8%), and baked beans (5%). Maize meal, rice, cake flour, eggs, fish, brown bread, tinned pilchards, chicken livers, stock cubes, soup, full cream milk, butternut, and Cremora all increased by between 2% to 3% from March to April. Domestic and personal hygiene items also saw an average increase year-on-year that ranged from 42% for green bar soap, 21% for toothpaste, and 18% for washing powder.

The PMBEJD said on low incomes, women buy the core staple foods first so that their families do not go hungry, and for basic meals to be prepared.

“Where the money remaining is short, consumers have no choice but to drop foods from their trolleys or reduce the volumes of nutritionally rich foods in their trolleys. This has negative consequences for health, well-being, and nutrition. As financial and economic circumstances worsen, so too does household health and nutrition. The gap between what consumers can buy and what they need to buy for proper nutrition widens,” read the statement.

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