Rising meat prices in June 2025 are pushing up food inflation and increasing living costs, adding strain to Wits students’ budgets.
- South Africa’s annual inflation rate increased by 0.2 percentage points to 3% in June 2025.
- Food inflation for meat and vegetables is driving the rise with increasing beef prices up by over 21.2% year-on-year.
- Wits students say rising prices are forcing them to change what and where they eat.
Students at Wits University are feeling the impact of rising food prices, with many reporting that they have had to skip meals, switch to cheaper meat options, and avoid campus shops. The price hikes are placing added pressure on already stretched student budgets, forcing some to reduce how often they buy groceries.
Although inflation remains at the lower end of the South African Reserve Bank’s 3% to 6% target range, the latest consumer price index (CPI) data confirms what students have already been experiencing: rising food prices, especially for meat and vegetables, are putting pressure on their budgets. In June 2025, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) recorded a 3.0% year-on-year CPI increase, up from 2.8% in May, with food inflation leading the surge.
Zuko Bangela, a Master of Finance student, said meat has become unaffordable. “Beef used to be my go-to, but now I buy pork and chicken instead. The braai plate I used to get in Braamfontein has gone up twice this year,” he said. “What used to be a weekly treat, I now only have twice a month.”
Food inflation reached 5.1% in June 2025, its highest level in 15 months. Stats SA reports that stewing beef prices alone rose by more than 21% compared to last year, the highest since 2017. Vegetables like beetroot, lettuce, and carrots also saw big price jumps, while cereals and dairy provided some relief.
For Khutso Mahlaela, a third-year law student, the cost of groceries has changed how he shops. “I used to buy meat from Pick n Pay, but now I go to Roots Butchery for better prices. Some items like mince and sausage are just not worth it anymore. Wits needs cheaper options on campus. OK Express is too expensive, and the prices are unreasonable,” he said.
Economists say this trend puts the most pressure on poor households and students.
“Students spend a bigger share of their income on food. When meat and vegetables become more expensive, it hits them the hardest,” said Dr Kenneth Creamer, an economics lecturer at Wits University.
We’ve had outbreaks in South Africa that impact beef prices. Good farming conditions and proper infrastructure can help keep food prices low.”
For now, students say they are adjusting and hoping things get better soon. “We’re always budgeting,” said Bangela. “But it’s getting harder to stretch the same amount of money.”
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