The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has added its voice to calls across the country opposing the planned 19% increase in electricity tariffs.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has said he will ask for the implementation of the price hike to be delayed, particularly because of the high level of daily power outages, known as load shedding.
The head of SAPA’s egg organisation, Dr Abongile Balarane said the tariff increases would put additional pressure on the industry. The price of fuel and electricity already made up 70% of the industry’s production costs.
Balarane said eggs were not selling as they used to as consumers are not able to afford them due to food inflation. He hoped the situation would improve as schools reopened for the year, and he urged mothers to include eggs in their children’s lunch boxes.