Stop Unfair Food Prices. Petition to Competition Commission


Stop Unfair Food Prices. Petition to Competition Commission
The Issue
Food prices in South Africa have become a violation of the Constitutional right to food security as prescribed in section 27 (1b) of the constitution which states that everyone has the right of access to sufficient food. The right to food is also recognised in a number of international human rights policy instruments e.g.; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The prices of certain essential foods like eggs, milk, bread, maize meal, sugar, fruits and vegetables have increased by up to 400% in the last 24 months whilst income levels have stayed the same. A tray of 30 eggs was R29 in 2021 and today it is R110.00. Bread sells for R10.00 in the Kasie but the major bread brands are selling it for double the price. Milk has jumped from R8 to R24 per liter. We are calling for an investigation on the following:
- Possible collusion between the major retailers in manipulating food prices.
- Abuse of dominant role in the retail sector by the four major retailers i.e., Pick'nPay, Spar, Checkers/Shoprite and Woolworths.
- The Evian flu and whether this is a facade to drive the prices of poultry products through the roof.
- Justification of the escalating food prices when compared to inflation.
- The need to establish a regulatory authority on food prices.

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The Issue
Food prices in South Africa have become a violation of the Constitutional right to food security as prescribed in section 27 (1b) of the constitution which states that everyone has the right of access to sufficient food. The right to food is also recognised in a number of international human rights policy instruments e.g.; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The prices of certain essential foods like eggs, milk, bread, maize meal, sugar, fruits and vegetables have increased by up to 400% in the last 24 months whilst income levels have stayed the same. A tray of 30 eggs was R29 in 2021 and today it is R110.00. Bread sells for R10.00 in the Kasie but the major bread brands are selling it for double the price. Milk has jumped from R8 to R24 per liter. We are calling for an investigation on the following:
- Possible collusion between the major retailers in manipulating food prices.
- Abuse of dominant role in the retail sector by the four major retailers i.e., Pick'nPay, Spar, Checkers/Shoprite and Woolworths.
- The Evian flu and whether this is a facade to drive the prices of poultry products through the roof.
- Justification of the escalating food prices when compared to inflation.
- The need to establish a regulatory authority on food prices.

13
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 15 October 2023