The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) Household Affordability Index food basket for June released on Tuesday was at R5,502.42, indicating an increase in the price of the food basket.
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The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) Household Affordability Index food basket for June released on Tuesday was at R5,502.42, indicating an increase in the price of the food basket.
The Index tracks the prices of 44 basic foods from 52 supermarkets and 36 butcheries.
Mervyn Abrahams, Director of the PMBEJD, said that month-on-month, the average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R23.15 (0.4%). “Year-on-year: The average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R59.29.”
Abrahams added that of the 44 foods tracked in the basket, 24 foods increased in price, and 20 foods decreased in price.
“Foods in the basket that increased in price in June 2026 by 5% or more include: onions, chicken feet, chicken livers, tomatoes, carrots, and green pepper."
Abrahams said that foods in the basket which increased in price in June 2026 by 2% or more include: sugar beans, samp, soup, Maas, canned baked beans, and apples.
Abrahams added that food baskets increased in price in Durban (R64.86), Cape Town (R75.29), Springbok (R133.98), and Mtubatuba (R25.18). “Food baskets decreased in Joburg (-R9.99), Pietermaritzburg (-R122.51), and Mthatha (-R85.08).”
Abrahams said that in June 2026, with 21 working days, the maximum National Minimum Wage for a General Worker is R5,078.64. “Workers work to support their families. The wage workers earn is not just to sustain themselves alone; it is used to support the entire family. For Black South African workers, one wage typically must support 4 people. The maximum wage of R5,078.64, when disbursed in a family of four persons, is R1,269.66. This is below the National Upper-Bound Poverty Line of R2,846 per capita per month, and below the National Lower-Bound Poverty Line of R1,415 per capita per month.”
Abrahams added that the minimum shortfall on food for a workers' family in June 2026 is 51.0% (a shortfall of R1,955.99 on a basket of nutritional food costing R3,836.78). “If all the remaining money (R1,880.79) went to buy food, then for a family of 4, it would provide R470.20 per person per month. This is 45% below the National Food Poverty Line of R855 per person per month.”
Abrahams concluded that transport to work and back is a major expense, and now with the adjusted fares, constitutes a 39.7% (R2,016.00) monthly spend off the National Minimum Wage in June 2026. “Increases in transport fares directly decrease the amount of money in workers' pockets to spend on food, as paying taxi fares are a non-negotiable expense. Workers have to pay for transport to get to work, to get paid; this leaves less money to buy proper nutritious food for workers and their families.”
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