Rising food costs leave Durban families struggling to make ends meet
Families in Durban are grappling with the rising cost of food, as recent findings reveal a significant increase in the average household food basket. With salaries remaining stagnant, many are left struggling to afford basic necessities.
The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) shared its May findings, which showed the average cost of the household food basket increased by R46.29 (0.9%), from R5 420.30 in April 2025 to R5 466.59 in May 2025.
Within a year, the average cost of the household food basket increased by R136.29 (2.6%), from R5 330.30 in May 2024 to R5 466.59 in May 2025.
Subashni Govender, 50, a sales assistant, from Tongaat, said she was struggling to stretch her salary through the month.
“Food prices continue to climb. I am living from hand to mouth. It is difficult to even buy basic groceries, not to mention our utility bills which are so high. By the time we pay our bills, there is not enough for food. Thankfully, I have some people who help me financially, otherwise I would not be able to survive,” she said.
“Meat is so expensive that I have not eaten it in months. I only eat chicken when it goes on sale. I mostly eat vegetables. We cannot afford to buy food at normal prices and only shop during the sales. Oil is required in all our foods and it is also so expensive. I don’t know how we are going to survive if te prices get any higher.”
Sangitha Rampersad, 52, a single mother of two, also of Tongaat, was laid off from work last week after her company was liquidated.
She is stressed about being unemployed and the rising food prices.
“Basic foods like rice, flour, oil, sugar and other big items are expensive. At least if those basic items were lower in price, we could safely feed our family. We cannot afford luxuries and don’t eat take-out.
“I shop for food items that would last through the month and help with lunch as well. I always sit with the different supermarket catalogues and compare them to find the cheapest deals. What do you say to someone who cannot even buy a loaf of bread? It’s crippling and upsetting,” said Rampersad.
Sidney Chetty, 45, a mechanic, from Stanger, said as a breadwinner the rising food costs made it difficult for him to make ends meet.
“I am the only one working in my family of four, so we have to stretch my salary for the month. My children are young, and require many necessities, which are also expensive. Sometimes we don’t have enough money to buy bread but we try to budget each month to ensure we have food on the table. I don’t get a fixed salary for my job. Some months are better than others but we never have enough to to splurge of luxuries. The cost of living does not allow it.
“Just buying milk, bread and maybe baked beans, already sets me back. With the price of food rising, I don’t know how much longer we can survive on my salary. I wished there was a coupon system in South Africa that could help us pay less for food,” said Chetty.
The PMBEJD found that in May 2025, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet was R979.66.
“Over the past month, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet increased by R6.41 (0.7%). Year-on-year, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet increased by R25.07 (2.6%),” read the PMBEJD report.