The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) August 2026 Household Affordability Index released on Wednesday indicated a decrease by R50,72 from July 2026, providing some relief to consumers; however an increase in the basket year on year was recorded. Civil society groups have also welcomed the decrease, providing some relief to the most impoverished.
Mervyn Abrahams, Director of the PMBEJD, said that the average cost of the Household Food Basket was at R5 479,80. “The average cost of the Household Food Basket decreased by R50,72 , from R5 530,52 in July 2026 to R5 479,80 in August 2026. Year-on-year: The average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R99,18 (1,8%), from R5 380,62 in August 2025 to R5 479,80 in August 2026.
Abrahams added that foods in the basket which increased in price in August 2026 by 5% or more include: potatoes, beef, and butternut. “Foods in the basket which increased in price in August 2026 by 2% or more include: onions, chicken gizzards, beef tripe, fish, peanut butter, and brown bread.
Abrahams said that foods in the basket which decreased in price in August 2026 by 5% or more include: tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, green pepper, apples, and oranges. “Foods in the basket which decreased in price in August 2026 by 2% or more include: maize meal, samp, salt, frozen chicken portions, curry powder, stock cubes, soup, chicken feet, spinach, cremora, and bananas.
Abrahams added that in August 2026, food baskets increased in price in Durban (+R51,36), Cape Town (+R26,99), and Pietermaritzburg (+R87,47). “Food baskets decreased in Joburg (-R108,67), Springbok (-R174,79), Mtubatuba (-R340,05), and Mthatha (-R192,00).”
Abrahams noted that Statistics South Africa’s latest Consumer Price Index for July 2026 shows that headline inflation was 4,3%.“CPI Food & non-alcoholic beverages inflation was -0,2% month-on-month and 0,9% year-on-year.”
Abrahams added that the minimum shortfall on food for a workers' family in August 2026 is 56,2% (a shortfall of R2 120,86 on a basket of nutritional food costing R3 774,21).
“If all the remaining money (R1 653,35) went to buy food, then for a family of 4, it would provide R413,34 per person per month. This is 48% below the National Food Poverty Line of R855 per person per month. Note that: the Food Poverty Line is a monetary-based threshold below which a person cannot consume enough food to meet their minimum daily energy requirements.”
Evashnee Naidu, KwaZulu-Natal regional manager of Black Sash, said that Black Sash notes that there has been some relief in the Household Food Basket which has decreased by R50,72 from July to August. “However, on deeper analysis, it must be noted that whilst the Food Basket costs may have decreased, individual basic food items that are a staple in many households have actually increased.”
Naidu added that this does not bode well for poor and vulnerable households which are already under great strain. “The global uncertainty makes it even more likely that food prices may continue to be unstable and this will continue to put pressure on households.”
Siyanda Baduza, a basic income researcher at the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ), said that a R50 saving is a meaningful addition to many poor households, especially given a few months of high fuel and food prices. “In the two months prior, the basket went up by over R70. So while significant, it doesn't necessarily reverse the period of high prices, which households have had to shoulder with very few buffers."
"While fuel levy increases were paused - benefiting mostly the middle class - poorer households did not see a similar pause on paraffin or an increase in grants, as happened in many other countries.”
Baduza added that grants, one of the most significant sources of income for the poorest households, remain inadequate.
“The SRD Grant, received by over 7 million working-age people, is only R370, which is less than half the value of the food poverty line. The Child Support Grant is equally inadequate by these objective measures, sitting at only R580.
Viewing the decrease in the basket in this light, we can see that while lower food prices can ease conditions temporarily, more direct interventions on income are needed to ensure people can actually afford quality, nutritious food.”
yogashen.pillay@nationalmg.co.za