South Africa: Electricity Is Eating Into Food Budgets for Struggling Households

Prepaid electricity costs now take a significant portion of a minimum wage income. Many households are forced to prioritise electricity and transport before buying food. Read more »

South Africa: Goodyear Factory Goes On Sale As Workers Accept Jobs Are Gone

More than 900 workers lost their jobs when the Goodyear factory shut down last year. Read more »

South Africa: 'I Became the Family Breadwinner At 15 and Now I'm Drowning in Debt'

A man who became his family's breadwinner at 15 now supports 12 relatives on one income and is struggling to cover rent, food and transport. Read more »

South Africa: Job Loss Forces a Mother to Sell Food At Traffic Lights to Feed Her Child

A woman selling sausages and bottled water at Cape Town traffic lights earns as little as R150 on bad days of trading. Read more »

South Africa: Beer Could Soon Cost More As Government Looks At Tax Hike

The Treasury is considering a tax hike of up to 20%, which could push beer prices up. Tavern owners warn higher prices could hurt small businesses and push drinkers to illegal… Read more »

South Africa: R150 a Day Means Working Seven Days a Week to Survive

South Africa: Farmers Warn Foot and Mouth Disease Is Out of Control

Foot and mouth disease has spread to seven provinces leaving farmers struggling with losses rising food prices and export bans. Farmers say government delays and vaccine… Read more »

South Africa: Tebogo Malaka Resigns Before Hearing Over R836 Million Hospital Project

Tebogo Malaka resigns as IDT CEO before disciplinary hearing linked to a failed R836-million hospital oxygen project. The Public Works minister says her resignation will not stop… Read more »

South Africa: Lesufi Warns Schools Without Ai Are Failing Children

Panyaza Lesufi says artificial intelligence must be taught in schools now and not years from now. He says schools without internet and devices are failing learners before they… Read more »

South Africa: Cheaper Groceries Now Available Nationwide With Best Before

Best Before sells food and personal care products close to their best-before date at prices far lower than major supermarkets. The company now offers nationwide courier delivery,… Read more »

South Africa: Eastern Cape Schools Say They Are Ready but Transport and Toilets Remain a Worry

Eastern Cape education department says most schools are ready but nearly 48,000 learners still need scholar transport. Read more »

South Africa: Polony Is No Longer Cheap Enough for School Lunchboxes

The single mother says polony once lasted weeks and helped her feed her twins cheaply, but is now only affordable in rare months. Read more »

South Africa: Food On Credit Fills the Gaps When Headboard Sales Are Slow

South Africa: Bicycles Become a Lifeline for Jobless Youth in North West

A 25-year-old bicycle operator says he earns money by transporting elderly people and doing deliveries where taxis do not operate. Read more »

South Africa: Gauteng Warns Unsafe Scholar Transport Will Be Taken Off Roads

Gauteng warns scholar transport operators that unsafe vehicles will be impounded and drivers may be arrested. Parents urged to check transport safety as officials inspect… Read more »

South Africa: January Pressure Is Pushing Families Into Dangerous Mashonisa Debt

Borrowers say mashonisas charge extreme interest, forcing people to borrow again just to repay old loans. Many hand over bank cards or Sassa cards as security, leaving them with… Read more »

South Africa: VAT On Basic Food Now Costs Families More Than a Bag of Maize Meal

VAT on the average household food basket now totals about R342 a month. That is more than the cost of a 30kg bag of maize meal, one of the main survival staples. Read more »

South Africa: Street Traders Around Pan Africa Mall Shut Out of Work

Street traders say metro police have blocked them from working since late last year, even after the G20 summit ended. With no daily income, families say they are struggling to… Read more »

South Africa: Eastern Cape Road Deaths Drop During Festive Season

Eastern Cape road deaths dropped from 219 to 153 between December and early January officials say. Police arrested 1,993 drunk drivers across the province including 308 in Nelson… Read more »

South Africa: Wheelchair Users Spend Hundreds When Taxis Won't Stop for Them

A wheelchair user says taxi drivers refuse to take her, forcing her to hire transport that costs hundreds of rands each month. After paying for transport, she says little money… Read more »

South Africa: Township Dice Games Rise As Jobless Youths Look for Quick Cash

With unemployment high, many young men say gambling is the only way to get quick money for food, transport or daily needs. Gambling workshops found most township gamblers are… Read more »

South Africa: Inflation Set to Drop in 2026 but Everyday Prices Will Stay High

Inflation may fall to about 3% in 2026, helped by lower food prices, a stronger rand and fuel price cuts. Slower inflation means prices rise more slowly, not that they go back… Read more »

South Africa: Government Bosses Set for Pay Rise

A commission wants politicians and senior officials to get a 4.1% pay increase across South Africa. The increase would cost the government more than R530-million extra at a time… Read more »

South Africa: Chocolate Prices Drop Just in Time for Festive Season

Cocoa prices have dropped by more than 50% after hitting record highs of $12,000 per ton. Better harvests in West Africa mean your favourite holiday treats might be more… Read more »

South Africa: Why Your Cabbage Now Costs R25 and Won't Get Cheaper

Miranda Sofika pays R1,800 for soil prep, R1,800 for ploughing, R4,500+ for planting labor, and R1,000 for fertiliser per crop. Water pump fuel costs jumped from R1,000 to… Read more »