South Africans Feel the Heat as Meat Prices Hit Seven-Year High
Meat inflation in South Africa has surged to its highest level since 2018, squeezing consumers already battling rising living costs.
South Africans are paying more than ever for their favourite cuts of beef, pork, lamb and chicken as meat inflation climbs to its highest point in seven years.
According to the latest data from Stats SA, the country’s annual consumer inflation edged up from 3.3% in August to 3.4% in September. While overall inflation remains moderate, the cost of meat has surged—reaching an annual increase of 11.7%, last seen in early 2018.
Meat Takes the Biggest Bite
Beef prices have been particularly hard hit. Stewing beef saw a staggering 32.2% annual rise, even as month-to-month prices showed no movement. The spike is largely tied to disruptions in supply caused by outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, which have strained the beef industry throughout 2025.
Pork and lamb prices also saw notable increases, while chicken—South Africa’s most consumed protein—continued to rise, albeit at a slower pace. Individual quick frozen (IQF) chicken increased from 4.4% in August to 5.0% in September.
Mixed Fortunes in the Food Basket
Not all food categories followed the same trend. Milk, dairy, and eggs offered some relief for consumers, marking their fourth consecutive month in deflation.
Fresh full-cream milk: down 2.1% year-on-year
Eggs: down 8.2%, with a carton of 18 eggs dropping from R69.36 to R62.58
Cheese: modest increases around 6.3% to 6.4%
Staples like white rice became cheaper (down 7.8%), but maize meal inflation quickened to 9.5%, up from 8.2% in August.
Non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) also saw some cooling, easing from 4.9% to 4.1%, a sharp contrast to the 9.5% recorded a year earlier. However, coffee remained an expensive habit, climbing 12.2% compared to last year.
Rent Up, Travel Down
Beyond the grocery aisle, housing rentals rose modestly, with townhouse rents increasing by 5.4%—the highest among housing types. Overall rental inflation climbed to 3.2%.
In contrast, transport costs continued to ease. September marked the thirteenth straight month of deflation for the category. Passenger transport prices were down 1.9%, and fuel prices fell slightly by 0.3% month-on-month, bringing the annual rate to -2.2%.
The Bigger Picture
While some price categories offer relief, rising meat costs are hitting households hard, especially as protein remains a key part of South African diets. The combination of supply disruptions, lingering disease outbreaks, and slow wage growth means many families are likely to feel the pressure heading into the end of the year.
In short: meat lovers in South Africa are facing their toughest year in nearly a decade—where even a simple braai has become a costly affair.