“Thabo Mbeki’s Era”: Price of Spur’s Ribs in 2004 Stuns South Africans

• A 2004 Spur advert revealed the cost of a 400g rack of ribs sold at the establishment
• In 2026, there is a vast difference between the previous and current prices, taking two digits to three
• Social media users expressed nostalgia over the dramatic price increase

A Spur advert, which aired 22 years ago, showed what many would now consider an affordable price for a 400g rack of ribs and chips. The tasty meal was on special for R39.95, which sparked a lively conversation among social media users.

On 29 January 2026, TikTok user @motaung.mbense uploaded the video, which showed a family sitting at the restaurant and being served their plate of ribs. The special was valid from 15 March to 18 April 2004.

Today, the cost for a 400g plate of ribs from Spur is R196.90.

Watch the TikTok video posted on @motaung.mbense's account below:

Read also

"Good ol' days": Witbank date night slip from 1997 leaves Mzansi shocked by inflation

Old price for Spur ribs intrigues South Africans

Hundreds of members of the online community gathered in the comment section to express their thoughts about the classic throwback video that took over their For You Pages.

@thabima said to the online community:

"Yoh, imagine you were earning R30 000 after tax back then."

@vannyko29 remarked in the comments:

"Thabo Mbeki’s era. I wish I were in my early 30s then. Would have a fully paid-off stand-alone house, three paid-off cars, and probably a farmhouse with some cows where I can retire."

@annoyedhandsome pleaded under the post:

"Please, Lord, bring back these prices."

@smejab78 shared with a laugh:

"In 2004, I was earning R150 per week doing an internship, which means I couldn't even afford to order water at Spur."

3 Other stories about old Spur prices

• In another article, Briefly News reported that a throwback video showing Spur's old ribs special took people down memory lane
• A post detailing Spur's origin story shared that an Original Burger sold for 35c, a price that would have many people wanting to travel back in time.
• A man shared that he had found a Spur menu from the 90s, which detailed the price points, leaving many South Africans in awe.

Source: Briefly News