The lone province dodging South Africa’s meat-price inflation spike

South African consumers have just lived through a record-breaking year, with 2025 delivering the lowest average annual inflation rate in 21 years at just 3.2%.

However, the celebratory mood at the checkout counter is being soured by a meat crisis that varies wildly depending on which province you call home.

According to the latest data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), meat inflation accelerated to 12.6% in December 2025, a massive leap from the -0.4% recorded only a year prior. While the headline inflation rate remains within the South African Reserve Bank’s target, the cost of protein has become a primary driver of household distress, holding a significant weight of 5.10 in the Consumer Price Index.

Gauteng vs The Coast: A Massive Meat Divide

The real shock for consumers is the “postcode lottery” of meat pricing. If you are lighting a fire in Gauteng, you are paying the highest meat tax in the country, with inflation in the province hitting a staggering 15.2%. The inland trend continues through Limpopo (14.3%) and Mpumalanga (13.6%), both of which significantly outpace the national average.

Meanwhile, those in the Eastern Cape are enjoying some relative relief. The province recorded the lowest meat inflation at just 7.0% – less than half the rate seen in Gauteng.

Data Breakdown: Annual Meat Inflation by Province (Dec 2025)

Source: Stats SA

The Braai Staples Hitting Hardest

The regional disparity is compounded by the types of meat South Africans prefer for their braais. Beef steak has seen a national price explosion of 29.4%, while braai staples like sausages and boerewors have jumped by 19.4% and 18.2% respectively.

While there was a slight monthly reprieve in October 2025 where prices stalled, the December 2025 surge confirms that meat remains a volatile risk for 2026 budgets.