ALTHOUGH the food supply decreased slightly last month, many people continue to suffer from hunger. Figures for March, show that the amount of food that satisfies the family decreased by R55.
An organization that conducts research on food prices, Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD), said that the gradual decrease in food prices will not burden the people who are struggling.
“A little decrease in food will not make a difference. The truth is that millions of people do not have enough money to buy healthy food.”
Statistics show that an average family meal costs R5 328. This amount is almost equal to the income that is assumed to be earned by a person earning the minimum wage set by the government.
“This money is not enough to buy food and it has to support the whole family. There is also the cost of transportation and electricity.”
The study looked at the prices of 44 types of food. The prices of 14 types of food increased, 29, and there was a change in the price of one type of food. Among the ones that have increased are tomato, cabbage, potato and tea plantations. The prices of staple foods, flour, rice and flour, all decreased.
Meats will also get a bit of a breather as the prices of red meat and poultry have fallen.
These figures are just coming out, Statistics SA has recently revealed that hunger is getting worse here in KwaZulu-Natal. The report presented by Mr. Bongani Hadebe last week, shows that one in two people in the province die of hunger.
Citing a study conducted in 2023, Radebe said that KwaZulu-Natal is the leading in the number of poor people as 49% of the people in this province are in poverty.
In South Africa, 23.2 million people are suffering from hunger.