On Wednesay, 30 September 2020, the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group will release the first edition of our new Household Affordability Index. The deepening food crisis in South Africa, exacerbated by Covid19 compelled us to expand the scope of our Household Affordability Index beyond Pietermaritzburg.  We ran a pilot project from April-August and are…
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Households are not absorbing the shock of Covid and the lockdown. We are not just going to get out of Covid.   The consequences of Covid will be very severe, will be with us for much longer than we think, and the socio-economic & socio-political disruptions will be very great. Read more…

The Basic Income Grant discussion is again before us.  We argue in this Discussion Paper that we would need to change our policy mindset around the Basic Income Grant.

Imminent taxi fare and electricity tariff hikes present a further threat to being able to put food on the table.

Foods in the trollies of families living on low incomes continue to increase.  Families are spending more on food and many have to borrow money to buy this food.  Hunger and nutritional deprivation is deepening.  Questions are raised regarding the adequacy of Government’s interventions to help South Africans during the pandemic.   Covid-19 Research Report…
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Report based on latest data as at the 23rd April, which may be of some value in getting a sense of how South Africans, living on low incomes, are experiencing food prices and the lockdown during Covid-19 and what women are thinking about the weeks ahead.  Includes analysis of CSG top-up. Covid-19: Research Paper –…
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This short paper includes observations from the supermarket floor, the waiting lines, the street, the spaza shop, the taxi, the home, the kitchen, the plate and the stomach. Covid-19: Observations from the supermarket floor

Media statement covers food price spikes, DTI Disaster Management Regulations, omissions in DTI Regulations, observations from the supermarket floor, and important public health message. Food prices & public health messages in a time of Covid-19

In the Budget Speech Minister Mboweni said that “The child support grant will increase by R20 to R445 per month.”  But … the child support grant is currently valued at R430 a month.  A R20 increase on R430 raises the child support grant to R450. Budget 2020: Child support grant

The resource below includes our latest household affordability data for February 2020 and STATSSA’s latest jobs data. We will be assessing Budget 2020 based on its impact on household affordability and the socio-economic situation households living on low-incomes experience. Budget 2020