Baked-in failure: Your bread is expensive because the state does not work
Farmers get less than R4 from every loaf. The other R16 passes through machinery the state has broken, from the ports to the power grid to the till, where the state takes a slice of its own.
A loaf of bread costs around R20 in urban areas, with only R4 going to the farmer who grew the wheat. The remaining R16 is absorbed by various state-run inefficiencies. The inquiry into the price of food did not question the state entities responsible for these issues. The story follows the loaf from the harbour to the bakery, revealing how broken state machinery inflates costs.
Ports ranked among the worst globally, delays in rail transportation, reliance on costly trucking, and Eskom's unreliable, inflation-beating electricity all contribute to the expense. The bread's journey is marred by these state-created costs, while the farmer is the only one facing a rigorous examination. The inquiry did not summon the state institutions that add hidden costs to the loaf, such as Eskom, Transnet, and the ports.
The inquiry also failed to address why the state takes a guaranteed R2.50 from every white loaf while farmers face unpredictable market challenges. This imbalance highlights the systemic issues plaguing the food system and the need for a more comprehensive inquiry.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
