Despite a modest decline in food prices in December, millions of low-income households remain under severe financial strain, civil society groups have warned, saying the relief reflected in the latest Household Affordability Index does not translate into meaningful food security.
The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) said its December 2025 Household Affordability Index showed the average cost of a basic Household Food Basket fell both month-on-month and year-on-year, yet remained far beyond the reach of families dependent on low wages and social grants.
According to PMBEJD, the average cost of the Household Food Basket stood at R5 333,45 in December 2025, down R80.08, or 1.5%, from R5 413.53 in November. On an annual basis, the basket declined by R49.93, or 0.9%, from R5 383.38 in December 2024.
PMBEJD director Mervyn Abrahams on Monday said the price movements reflected mixed pressures within the basket. Foods that increased by 5% or more during the month included carrots, oranges and bananas, while fish, tomatoes and spinach also recorded notable increases.
However, several staples posted declines, with maize meal, samp, cooking oil, frozen chicken portions, beef liver, tinned pilchards and margarine among the items that became cheaper. Larger decreases were recorded for rice, potatoes, onions and butternut.
Abrahams said the latest Statistics South Africa data showed headline consumer inflation for November 2025 was 3.5%, while inflation for the lowest expenditure groups was lower, ranging between 2.6% and 3.0%. Food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation stood at 4.4%, while producer prices in agriculture declined by 3.7%, with crop and horticultural products down sharply by 16.9%.
While the easing in food prices was welcomed, experts cautioned that structural income poverty continued to outweigh any short-term price relief.
Siyanda Baduza, a researcher at the Institute for Economic Justice, said the December decline offered some relief during a period of higher festive-season food consumption but failed to address deeper affordability challenges.
“Social grants, while providing a necessary buffer against the worst effects of food insecurity, unfortunately still fall below levels of adequacy,” Baduza said.
“Even with increased affordability, many (as many as one-quarter of South African households rely on grants as their primary income) will still not be able to meet their basic needs.”
He also highlighted that the Child Support Grant, which supports the largest number of beneficiaries, remains at R560 per month, far below the rebased 2023 food poverty line of R777 and the estimated R934 required to provide a nutritious diet for a child.
Black Sash spokesperson Oliver Meth echoed these concerns, warning that the decline in basket costs masked persistent hardship.
“At R5 333.45, food remains deeply unaffordable for families living on low wages and social grants. For workers earning the National Minimum Wage, food is bought only after transport and electricity are paid for,” Meth said.
“This leaves many families underspending on food by more than 50%. This means many households simply cannot afford enough nutritious food, even before considering other basic needs.”
Meth said this chronic under-consumption of food leaves families unable to access sufficient nutrition even before accounting for other essential expenses such as housing, healthcare and education.
“This places women, children, and caregivers at continued risk of hunger and malnutrition. At Black Sash, we see daily how marginal changes in food prices do not translate into dignity or food security for people,” he said.
“Without urgent action to strengthen social protection, improve grant adequacy, and support sustainable livelihoods, households will remain trapped in a cycle of poverty and hunger despite headline declines in food prices.”
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