Food prices continue to be a challenge as they have been for many terrible years. Some have dropped since last year but others continue to soar.

Shake at these increases in South Africa (made worse by the fact that we export oranges, eggs and sugar):

• Oranges +37%

• Eggs +36%

• Rice +34%

• Sugar Beans +24%

• Peanut Butter +19%

• White Sugar +18%

• Tea +17%

• Canned Beans +15%

• Chicken livers 12%

• Milk +11%

• Potatoes +11%

• Apples +9%

The Business Tech website pointed out that:

“According to the latest Eighty20 Credit Stress Report, middle-income households earning an average of R25,000 ($1300) a month and individuals earning an average of R15,000 a month, are already burdened with spending 79% of their monthly income to pay on credit instalment payments. However, Berkowitz pointed out that – after deducting an average tax rate of 8.2% – they spend closer to 86% of their take-home pay on instalment debt repayments.”

That’s the pain of the vanishing middle class. Of course, life at the bottom is worse.

Will there ever be punishment for price gougers making profit out of people’s fears for global stability?

Will Government ever stand on the side of the People and ensure food security, good school education and physical safety?

It would be nice if the May election isn’t a fight over who benefits the most from fucking us over.