Meat prices in South Africa have risen sharply due to diseases affecting livestock and global problems like poultry import bans. Despite these higher costs, families keep the beloved braai tradition alive by choosing cheaper cuts, other proteins, or even vegetarian options. The braai remains a special time where friends and family gather, sharing food, stories, and laughter around the fire. Even as prices climb, South Africans show creativity and resilience, adapting their meals but never losing the warmth and spirit of the gathering. The braai is more than just a meal—it’s a symbol of community and strength in changing times.
Meat prices in South Africa have surged due to livestock diseases like foot and mouth and global disruptions such as poultry import bans. This has led to higher costs for beef and chicken, forcing households to adapt by choosing cheaper cuts, alternative proteins, and maintaining braai traditions despite rising inflation.
As the first chilly mornings of winter set in, the aroma of grilling meat drifts through South African suburbs, marking payday weekends with a familiar sense of community. For generations, the braai has stood at the heart of social life, serving as a gathering point that transcends age, background, and even economic circumstance. Friends and family congregate around the coals, sharing not only food but also stories, laughter, and traditions.
Yet, beneath these cherished gatherings, a new tension simmers: the escalating cost of meat. What was once a simple pleasure now requires thoughtful budgeting, as the centrepiece of the braai—steak, chops, and sausages—claims a bigger slice of the monthly grocery bill. The ritual endures, but each flip of the steak now prompts a second look at household finances.
Meat prices have become a pressing concern for ordinary South Africans. Over the past year, consumers have witnessed a 6.6% increase in meat costs, with a dramatic surge of 2.2% in June 2025 alone. Stewing beef, a fixture in winter comfort food, has leaped by 21.2% compared to the previous year—marking the highest annual jump since meat prices began being tracked by the current consumer price index in 2017. This spike is keenly felt at butcheries and supermarkets, where careful portioning and strategic choices replace the carefree shopping of years past.
A combination of immediate crises and ongoing challenges has fueled these price hikes. The most visible driver has been a recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease, which swept through cattle populations in key provinces like KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State. Authorities responding to the outbreak imposed strict biosecurity protocols, halting the movement and slaughter of herds in affected areas. This reduction in available beef has squeezed supply, sending prices higher across the country.
Farmers in these regions have faced difficult decisions. Once bustling with the sounds of livestock, many farms now stand quiet, their operations suspended to prevent further spread of disease. The impact trickles directly down to the consumer: beef becomes scarcer and more expensive, and families must adapt their shopping habits. The cost of staple cuts—stewing beef, mince, and steak—has climbed steadily, forcing shoppers to weigh options carefully, sometimes swapping beef for other proteins or less popular cuts.
This crisis extends beyond beef. Earlier in the year, South Africa’s poultry sector encountered its own setback when bird flu outbreaks triggered a ban on Brazilian poultry imports. Brazil, as the leading global supplier and the main source of mechanically deboned meat (MDM) for South Africa, plays a crucial role in processed foods such as polony and other cold cuts. The partial lifting of the ban has done little to restore full supply, driving up the costs of these everyday protein sources and leaving manufacturers scrambling for alternatives.
The broader consequence is a cascade of changes throughout the food chain. Retailers modify their specials, consumers experiment with new recipes, and social media fills with tips for stretching meat or substituting with plant-based options. The current situation evokes memories of earlier periods of scarcity, when South Africans responded to rationing or Apartheid-era limitations with creativity and resilience in the kitchen.
Inflationary pressures have not confined themselves to meat. Food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation hit a 15-month peak in June, clocking in at 5.1%. This acceleration comes on the heels of a gradual uptick in general consumer inflation, which edged up from 2.8% in April and May to 3.0% in June. While the figures reflect familiar economic cycles, their effects land with greater force in the day-to-day lives of ordinary people, reshaping shopping lists and meal planning across the country.
Vegetables and fruit, once reliable bulwarks against rising protein prices, have also succumbed to inflation. Kitchen mainstays like beetroot, lettuce, and carrots now carry double-digit price increases, eroding their value as affordable nutrition. Even the humble nut, a staple for healthy snacking, has seen costs climb—though peanuts remain a rare exception, with prices dipping slightly. In the bustling produce aisles, shoppers juggle numbers and priorities, seeking the best balance between health, taste, and budget.
Despite these challenges, there are spots of relief. Dairy products have defied the trend, with both full-cream and low-fat milk registering price drops in recent months. Eggs, too, have become slightly cheaper, offering families a versatile and protein-rich fallback. Other essentials, such as white rice and breakfast cereals, have seen small price declines, providing affordable meal options as food budgets come under pressure. South Africa’s experience mirrors global trends, where supply chain recoveries and seasonal changes can sometimes bring targeted price relief.
In the face of these pressures, South African households have responded with adaptability rooted in a long tradition of making do. Recipes featuring less expensive or overlooked cuts of meat now circulate widely, and cooks experiment with marinating tougher cuts to create flavourful braai dishes. Many turn to chicken, boerewors, or even vegetarian options, ensuring that the spirit of the braai remains alive even if the menu changes. The act of communal grilling, where friends and neighbours each bring a contribution, has become more significant as a way to stretch budgets and strengthen social bonds.
This resourcefulness is nothing new for South Africans. History teems with examples of innovation prompted by necessity, from coping with livestock disease outbreaks in the nineteenth century to navigating rationing during times of conflict. Each wave of adversity has fostered new approaches to farming, cooking, and eating, as well as a deeper sense of shared purpose. The country’s multifaceted culinary influences—from indigenous roots to European and Asian imports—enrich this ongoing process of adaptation.
Food, after all, holds a central place in South African identity, both in daily life and in the arts. In painting, photography, and literature, meals serve as powerful metaphors for community and endurance. Artists like William Kentridge capture the smoky haze and communal energy of township braais, while writers such as Zakes Mda and Nadine Gordimer use the dinner table as a stage for exploring questions of belonging, resilience, and change. The way South Africans confront inflation at the table echoes these deeper currents of creativity and solidarity.
Economic experts suggest that some respite may be ahead. As import restrictions ease and international supply chains stabilize, there is potential for meat prices to moderate. Nevertheless, the persistent threats of livestock disease, climate change, and changing patterns of global trade ensure that volatility will likely remain a fact of life for the foreseeable future. Farmers, policymakers, and consumers must continue to adapt, drawing on a combination of tradition, pragmatism, and optimism to navigate these complexities.
The braai endures as a symbol of more than just food; it embodies the ability to come together, to share burdens and joys alike, and to innovate in the face of challenge. Even as menus shift and meat becomes dearer, the communal fire and the warmth it brings remain undiminished. Laughter rises with the smoke, neighbours swap stories, and South Africans reaffirm their capacity for resilience, one meal at a time.
In the evolving landscape of South African food culture, change has become the only constant. Yet through flexibility, creativity, and a fierce commitment to shared traditions, households continue to find meaning and connection around the braai. The economic challenges may be formidable, but the spirit of togetherness—fuelled by the crackle of coals and the aroma of spices—shines as brightly as ever.
Meat prices are increasing due to a combination of factors including outbreaks of livestock diseases like foot and mouth disease, which have reduced cattle supply in key provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State. Additionally, global disruptions—such as poultry import bans triggered by bird flu outbreaks—have restricted the availability of affordable proteins like mechanically deboned meat (MDM) from Brazil. These supply constraints, coupled with inflationary pressures, have pushed up the cost of beef, chicken, and processed meats across the country.
Despite higher meat prices, South Africans remain committed to the braai tradition, which is more than just a meal—it’s a social and cultural ritual. Families and friends continue to gather around the fire, but often adapt by choosing cheaper or less popular cuts of meat, incorporating alternative proteins such as chicken or boerewors, and even exploring vegetarian options. The communal spirit of sharing and resilience helps maintain the warmth and joy of the braai, even as menus shift to accommodate tighter budgets.
Many households have turned to more affordable protein sources like eggs, which have become slightly cheaper, and dairy products, which have seen price drops recently. Cheaper cuts of meat, chicken, and boerewors remain popular substitutes. Additionally, there is growing experimentation with vegetarian dishes and plant-based options as protein alternatives. Creative recipes that stretch meat further—such as marinating tougher cuts or mixing in vegetables—are widely shared to help maintain flavour and nutrition without overspending.
Yes, inflation has influenced a broad range of food items. Vegetables and fruits such as beetroot, lettuce, and carrots have experienced double-digit price increases, reducing their role as affordable nutrition options. Nuts have generally become more expensive, except for peanuts, which saw a slight price decrease. However, some staples like white rice and breakfast cereals have seen small price declines, offering budget-friendly meal options to consumers.
The braai is a deeply rooted social and cultural tradition in South Africa, representing community, resilience, and shared identity. It serves as a gathering point where people from diverse backgrounds come together to share stories, laughter, and support. Historically, the braai has symbolized endurance through times of scarcity and hardship, fostering creativity and solidarity in the kitchen and beyond. It continues to be a powerful metaphor for belonging and adaptation amid changing economic and social landscapes.
Experts anticipate some easing of meat prices as import restrictions gradually lift and supply chains stabilize. However, ongoing risks such as livestock diseases, climate change impacts, and global trade fluctuations mean price volatility is likely to persist. The braai tradition will continue to evolve, relying on the ingenuity and adaptability of South Africans. By balancing tradition with pragmatism and optimism, communities are expected to sustain the spirit of the braai, keeping it alive as a symbol of togetherness and resilience despite economic challenges.
If you have more questions or need braai recipe tips to stretch your budget, feel free to ask!
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