“Thank You, ANC”: 2026 vs 2000 R100 Buying Power Comparison Leaves SA Concerned
- A new report shows R100 spent in South Africa back in 2000 is now worth about R385 in 2026, after 285% inflation over 26 years
- Basic foods like cooking oil, milk and bread have shot up by over 500% since 2000, beating general inflation by a wide margin
- Fuel and transport costs pushed food inflation to 5% in July, after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz rattled global oil supply
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R100 covered a full basket of groceries for South African shoppers back in 2000. Today, that same basket costs almost five times more, a new report shows.
Consumers across the country are feeling the pinch as food prices climb faster than general inflation. The gap between then and now paints a stark picture of shrinking buying power.
Everyday groceries lead the price surge
Ten basic food items that cost just R81.73 in total back in 2000 now cost R484.90 combined. That is far above the R385 you would expect from inflation alone.
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Cooking oil has jumped by 703.9% since 2000, the steepest increase of any item tracked. Milk rose by 611.8%, while brown bread climbed 589.9% over the same 26 years.
According to a report by BusinessTech, R100 in 2000 is roughly equal to R385 today, based on Stats SA’s consumer price index. That works out to 285% inflation, or 5.54% a year on average.
Sugar, beef and eggs also rose by more than 500%, squeezing household budgets across the country. Maize meal and chicken rose more modestly, but still well above general inflation levels.
Consumer food price inflation climbed to 5% in July 2026, its third straight monthly increase. Experts had expected a smaller rise of around 4.7% for the month.
Transport was the biggest driver, up 12.7% year-on-year according to Stats SA. Petrol prices spiked after the United States struck Iran, shutting the Strait of Hormuz.
That waterway carries roughly 30% of the world’s oil supply. Its closure sent shockwaves through fuel markets, pushing food costs even higher for shoppers.
See Mzansi reactions in the TikTok video below:
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Source: Briefly News
