How Far Your Rand Goes: A Journey Through 44 Years Of South African Inflation

• Back in the early '80s, inflation hit a staggering 13.4% annually—now, that’s quite the difference from where we stand today.
• South Africans, it seems, have a thing for meat. It makes up a whopping 33% of our grocery budgets, leading the charge in terms of food spending.
• Sta-soft? Turns out, it's the only product in this 44-year comparison that’s outpaced inflation. Who knew laundry detergent could be such a standout?

Let’s talk numbers. Since 1980, inflation has skyrocketed by nearly 4,000%. To put that into perspective, we’re looking at what R100 could buy back then versus what it buys today. It’s a wild ride, folks.

Business Tech crunched the numbers to show us just how far R100 would have stretched between 1980 and 2024. Spoiler alert: not very far these days.

Many South Africans are feeling the pinch in 2024, with prices spiraling out of control. But are these price hikes actually keeping pace with inflation? Let’s dive deeper and find out.

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To give you a clearer picture, we’ve averaged the costs of common grocery items from the big four retailers in South Africa: Checkers, Spar, Pick ‘n Pay, and Woolworths. Think of it as a snapshot of what’s happening in our shopping carts.

Now, let’s talk about that love affair South Africans have with meat. It’s no secret that meat takes up a big chunk—about a third—of our grocery bills. But maybe, just maybe, it’s time to rethink our shopping habits. Could swapping those pricey lamb chops for something else save us some cash?

What Your Groceries Cost: Then vs. Now

Item	1980 cost	2024 cost	% change
2l milk	R1.72	R36.74	2,036%
Lamb chops	R6.69/kg	R209.74/kg	3,035%
Toothpaste (100ml)	R1.09	R21.99	1,917%
Pasta (500g)	R0.99	R18.99	1,818%
2kg white rice	R1.19	R42.72	3,490%
Simba chips (120g)	R0.99	R20.65	1,986%
Sta-soft (1l)	R1.99	R88.24	4,334%
Kellogg’s cornflakes (500g)	R1.49	R54.99	3,591%
Mushrooms (250g)	R1.49	R33.99	2,756%
Cheese	R5.99/kg	R179.35/kg	2,894%

Breaking Down the Numbers: How Prices Are Tracked

Statistics South Africa has been keeping tabs on inflation for decades now. The consumer price index (CPI) is the tool they use to measure changes in inflation and track price fluctuations across the country.

Back in 1980, the CPI headline index was a modest 3.2. Fast forward to 2024, and we’re looking at a massive 126.4. That’s a lot of change, folks.

What the People Are Saying

Of course, the best way to understand the impact of inflation is to hear from the people living it every day. Here’s what some South Africans had to say:

“I was so surprised today at Shoprite when spending R100 buying only 30 large eggs and a loaf of Albany bread 😂 The cost of living is very high. Xem yoh.” — Bøitumelø Glen Leshiba

“In 1984, I went to the mielie fields after harvest and picked up what was left. I took it home, and my mom used it to brew traditional beer to sell to the locals. A litre of it cost R0.20. I made R12 from that money, and she bought me a blanket and school uniform. With the change, she bought a soccer ball. Fast forward to 2006, I bought my first bakkie. I filled it up with R300 and drove from East London to Lusikisiki, about 350kms. Our currency has lost its value.” — Haha Mlunjwa

“I was checking the R370 grant value and what it could have been in 1990, and it gave me R3,040 if not mistaken... R1k in 1987 could have bought items costing R12k today.” — Tshepo Thys Magane

“It is a point in time calculation - if you divide everything by 4000, you will get more or less what it cost in 1980 in RSA. A ZAR’s buying power is a fraction today than it was in 1980. It’s good to think in these terms and not get distracted by how all fiat currency is being eroded away. This is great in terms of debt, it is how governments reduce their debt levels in absolute terms by eroding the citizens spending power and increasing taxes in real terms by not adjusting tax levels or exemption levels at all or by far less than the inflation rate - the value of money is effectively what the government and their institutions say it is.” — Andrew Pienaar

“I’m more worried about how the Rand has dropped in value in the last 20 years. I mean, a litre of fuel was R7.80 in 2004... I stand corrected but I’m sure not far off. Bread and milk was R20... It’s now R50 or more. Don’t even get me started on electricity and rent Consortium.” — Justin Lee Nel

Family of Four Spending Over R8K on Groceries

Briefly News reported earlier that the rising cost of living in South Africa has left many families struggling to afford basic groceries. The financial strain is real, and it’s hitting hard.

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South Africans have been vocal about the unbearable inflation and skyrocketing food prices. One family of four recently revealed that they spend approximately R8,000 monthly on groceries—and that’s after supplementing their shopping with additional items. It’s a tough reality for many across the nation.