We’re bracing for price increases that are set to send our wallets on a diet for a long while to come with developing countries the world over, worried about food scarcity and riots while in developed countries, like the UK, the Economist magazine warns of the “the worst standard of living crisis since the 1970s”.
In South Africa, we may not feel the effects of surging food prices as much as other countries due to our being a net exporter of food, writes Carol Paton.
The writer also cites agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo who wrote a new piece for the economic policy debate platform, Econ3x3, where Sihlobo says “there are downward pressures on prices of fruit, vegetables, milk, egg and cheese, and to a lesser extent meat.”
Cereals and fats and oils are where food price spikes will be felt in SA.
“Fuel, on the other hand, is rising, and likely to stay high as the war in Ukraine shows no sign of ending soon,” writes Paton, and goes on to explain that government will have to decide on what sort of relief it wants to provide and for who it will provide it?
Whether it decides to help the poorest of the poor or the working and middle classes, one thing, finance minister Enoch Godongwana is certain of – something must be done.
Niel Roets writes that whatever the fuel price hike, it will be a catastrophe for South African households as they battle to survive and are plunged further into debt each month just to make ends meet.
Here’s a round-up of what we’re reading:
Business should not get lost in noise around governance – The Citizen (for subscribers)
EDITORIAL | KZN floods: it’s time the state sorted out the land issue – Sunday Times Daily (for subscribers)
PETER BRUCE: Why Ramaphosa is deluded about ‘black capitalism’ – Financial Mail (for subscribers)
TOM EATON: Nothing left but cold, hard truth for undead ruin of ANC – Business Day (for subscribers)
OPINION | Chrispin Phiri: Where have all the good comrades gone? – News24
Unstable coalitions a stumbling block for local government service delivery – Daily Maverick
OPINION | What value does Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa bring to Davos? – Mail & Guardian
