Following sharp fuel price increases from 6 May 2026 due to the US-Iran war, higher fuel and fertiliser costs are driving up food prices in South Africa. The basic food basket for Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant recipients has reached R423.86, surpassing the R370 grant and heightening food insecurity risks for low-income households, economists warn.
Food producers are grappling with elevated input costs from fuel and fertiliser, exacerbated by the US-Iran conflict. As detailed in prior coverage, petrol and diesel prices surged on 6 May, following temporary government fuel levy reductions that expire in early June.
Maverick Citizen monitors a basket of 14 basic food items affordable on the R370 SRD grant, which climbed R16 to R423.86 from March to April 2026, propelled by rice (+R10) and cabbage (+R5). The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity’s Household Affordability Index records a 44-item basket at R5,452.09 in April (up R123.66 from March), with a nutritional basket for a family of seven at R6,618.99.
SRD recipient Bhungane Zibi from Mthatha shared his plight: “It fluctuates. It could be R8 one month or R12 or even R14 the next. I spend most of the grant on maize meal, electricity, sugar, cooking oil... The rest on soap, vaseline, toothpaste.” By 9 April, only R60 remained, supplemented by family aid and odd jobs.
"This will most certainly impact food prices because food producers use diesel, and transporting food from farm to plate requires petrol and diesel," said Dr Dieter von Fintel of Stellenbosch University. The Competition Commission’s March report flagged ‘rocket and feather’ pricing in staples like eggs and maize meal, where retail prices fail to drop with producer costs.
