March 06
South Africa: Healthy Food Slipping Out of Reach for Poor Families
The February 2026 Household Affordability Index shows the cost of nutritious food continues to rise, pushing healthy meals out of reach for many low income families. Families are… Read more »
March 04
South Africa: Two Child Grants Are Not Enough to Feed a Family for a Month
Two Child Support Grants total R1,120 while the average household food basket now costs R5,422 in February. The basic nutritional food basket for a larger family is over R6,500 a… Read more »
South Africa: Connected, but Still in the Dark
In Merafong Local Municipality on Gauteng's West Rand, households are connected to the national grid but cannot afford electricity, revealing how prepaid power, municipal debt and… Read more »
March 03
South Africa: King Misuzulu Fights to Save Tongaat Hulett From Collapse
Zulu Royal Chancellor Inkosi Malusi Zondi is working to stop Tongaat Hulett from being liquidated, saying thousands of jobs and the rural economy of KwaZulu-Natal are at stake. Read more »
March 02
South Africa: Building Collapse Kills Six Workers At Omonder Construction Site
Six workers were confirmed dead after a concrete slab collapsed between floors at a two storey building under construction in Omonder on Monday afternoon. Rescue teams are still… Read more »
South Africa: Families Borrow At High Interest Just to Buy Food
The February 2026 Household Affordability Index shows the cost of a basic food basket has risen again, placing severe pressure on low income households. Many workers now rely on… Read more »
February 27
South Africa: Motorbikes Plan to Tackle Eastern Cape Job Crisis
Premier Oscar Mabuyane says the province will train, licence and equip unemployed young people to work as last mile delivery drivers for online shopping platforms. Latest labour… Read more »
South Africa: Food Basket Rises Again As Wages Stay the Same
The February 2026 Household Affordability Index shows another increase in the cost of the basic household food basket, deepening pressure on low-income families. Many full-time… Read more »
February 25
South Africa: Eastern Cape Man Raises Siblings On R100 a Day After Losing Parents
The man earns R100 a day helping a local business supply water by truck to businesses and community members in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape. The 26-year-old saves his R100 daily wage… Read more »
South Africa: Nearly 13 Million Children Rely On the Child Support Grant
12.9 million children receive the Child Support Grant according to the January affordability data. The Child Support Grant is currently set at R560 per child per month in South… Read more »
February 23
South Africa: Qualified Security Guard Earns R150 for Full Day
Sello Selebe, a 46-year-old security guard registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, says he earns R150 after waiting and working long hours at stadium… Read more »
South Africa: Nearly Half of Black South Africans Live Below the Lower Poverty Line
43.8 percent of Black South Africans live below the lower-bound poverty line of R1,300 per person per month. 20.8 percent live below the food poverty line of R777 per person per… Read more »
February 20
South Africa: Nearly Half of South Africa's Young People Still Can't Find Work
The youth unemployment rate dropped slightly to 43.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025, down from 44.6% in the same period in 2024. Youth Capital says the upcoming national Budget… Read more »
South Africa: Joburg Businesses Fight to Survive Nine Months Without Water
Businesses in Park Central and Selby have had no permanent water for nearly nine months and rely on water tankers. Joburg Water says upgrades at the Hector Norris pump station… Read more »
February 19
South Africa: City Power Boss Mashava Quits After 10 Years in the Job
City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava quit on 12 February 2025, saying she wants to follow personal and professional goals. Read more »
South Africa: Half the Foods Families Buy Every Month Are Still Taxed
The January index shows 22 of the 44 foods tracked in the household basket are subject to VAT each month. Foods subject to VAT account for about 49 percent of total household… Read more »
February 18
South Africa: Over Half of Eastern Cape's Workforce Now Unemployed
The Eastern Cape lost 32,000 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 53,000 in the third quarter of 2025. While the national unemployment rate fell to 31.4%, youth unemployment… Read more »
South Africa: Eskom Workers Say 6% Pay Increase Is Not Enough
The National Union of Mineworkers and Numsa both turned down Eskom's 6% offer after a third round of wage talks last week. NUM has revised its demand down to 12%, still double… Read more »
February 17
South Africa: South Africa Pays More for Data Than 27 Other African Countries, New Report Finds
StatRanker data puts the average price of 1GB of mobile data in South Africa at R20.50 in 2025. Communications Minister Solly Malatsi told Parliament that data prices have fallen… Read more »
February 13
South Africa: Ramaphosa Admits the State Is Broken
Ramaphosa sent Water Minister Pemmy Majodina and Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa to Gauteng to deal with the water crisis. Ramaphosa will deploy soldiers… Read more »
February 12
South Africa: Spaza Shops Slammed for Charging Extra for Card Payments
A KwaLanga woman paid R10 to withdraw R50, saying she depends on her son's social grant to survive. The Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman says charging extra for card… Read more »
February 11
South Africa: Average South African Poorer Now Than in 2007
Economist Aroni Chaudhuri says energy and labour problems stopped South Africa from growing like other emerging markets since joining BRICS. If South Africa had enough… Read more »
February 12
South Africa: Government Says Data Prices Dropped but Some Costs Barely Moved
Minister Solly Malatsi answered questions from uMkhonto Wesizwe MP Seeng Mokoena about why data prices have not changed much. One gigabyte of prepaid data now costs R79 compared… Read more »
February 11
South Africa: Volkswagen Denies Plan to Close Kariega Factory
Reports claimed Volkswagen might close its Kariega factory in the Eastern Cape, putting nearly 4,000 direct jobs at serious risk. Volkswagen communications head Andile Dlamini… Read more »
South Africa: Cattle Disease Leaves Kwazulu-Natal Farmers With No Income and No Hope
Sipho Mkhize from Normandien in Newcastle has not sold cattle in over a year and cannot feed his own children. Last week alone, vets confirmed positive cases on 17,833 farms… Read more »
