Buckling under the economic strain brought on by Covid-19, consumers who have been paying more for food will have to fork out even more for petrol, as well as a possible electricity hike.
A South African organisation monitoring prices of a basic food basket of 38 items showed that rice had increased by 26%, sugar beans by 18%, cooking oil by 11%, while vegetables such as cabbage and carrots increased by 22%.The Competition Commission briefed a parliamentary committee on the 1354 complaints it had received on price gouging since the beginning of lockdown. Panic buying and a weakened rand has been to blame for retailers hiking food prices.
A price hike for electricity is also on the cards after the National Energy Regulator of SA approved Eskom’s application to recover R13.3billion for the 2018/2019 financial year. Eskom will be able to recover this money through tariff increases. Mervyn Abrahams from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group said it had been monitoring the cost of a household food basket of 38 basic food items brought by women from low-income households, which amounted to an increase of around R249 in two months.
“We are not surprised by the deepening sense of hunger with food becoming more unaffordable with more people at home. Food that used to last three weeks now lasts for two, which is no surprise that we see many people queuing for food aid.”
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