By Lynnette Jones

Patience Mkhulisi, of Gugulethu in Cape Town, is deeply worried that soon she will not be able to put food on the table for her family.

Even the taste of cheaper cuts of stewing meat, which can retail for between R35 to R40 a kilogram, is a distant memory. Luxuries are reserved for Christmas.

Mkhulisi says she has noticed a steep increase in the cost of food over the past year.

"We are eating far less meat and smaller portions of everything. We only eat mince, viennas, burgers and sometimes chicken," she said.

Chicken, which has become the meat of choice for many, retails for between R25 and R50 a kilogram.

Mkhulisi was one of several people the Weekend Argus spoke to outside Canal Walk about the rising cost of living.

This week she was serving samp and beans two nights running and another night her two children would have to be satisfied with bread and coffee.

"I am worried that the day will soon come when I will not have enough money to feed my children," she said.

Mkhulisi is one of millions of people across the world battling to feed their families as the prices of staple foods rocket due to irregular weather patterns, higher demand, particularly in Asia, and the rising cost of grain and fuel.

In Haiti this week five people were killed during food price demonstrations. Egypt has also seen violent clashes. In Burkina Faso, unions have called for a general strike over the rising cost of living.

Cosatu has lodged a Section 77 notice with the National Economic Development and Labour Council, a precursor to mass action in response to the cost of living in South Africa.

Consumers are groaning under the burden of imminent electricity price rises, the petrol price heading towards R10 a litre and Thursday's announcement by Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni that the repo rate is going up by a further 50 basis points, the ninth consecutive increase. This is likely to take the banks' prime lending rate up to 15 percent.

Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said on Friday its call for action had struck a chord.

"Of all the campaigns we have run in the past this is the first time that we have had so many calls from people and businesses pledging their support."

Cosatu is waiting for a date with Nedlac to discuss its pending action.

Craven said it would launch the first protest tomorrow in Polokwane, Limpopo, with a march to draw attention to rising food prices and the electricity crisis.

Craven anticipated that Cosatu would intensify the protests within weeks. Disciplined and co-ordinated action was necessary to ensure protests did not became violent, as in other parts of the world, he said.

The increasing cost of food can easily be seen in the price increases in the Weekend Argus shopping basket.

The newspaper has been monitoring the cost of basic foods since August and publishing the results weekly on its Business page. In the past eight months the cost of the basket has increased from R270.58 to R297.84.

Consumers are feeling the pinch and have responded by changing their habits.

Wilna and Brian Jensen, of Parow, walked out of a large chain store with two small bags and a four-litre pack of juice.

Their purchases had come to R200. Even though the Jensens, who have a son, do not have to skimp, they have cut all red meat from their diet. But they are still spending at least R2 500 a month on food.

Tuyaiba Adams, of Summer Greens, avoids shopping unless she absolutely has to.

Adams said they were living off their overdraft as they battled to cope.

"No luxuries, smaller portions, one pot of food stretched over two nights, more dhal and lentils, and the children are having to adjust," Adams said.

Even though Isabella van Sittert of Edgemead had become less brand-conscious, she was still loathe to sacrifice quality. She had instead scaled down on the quantity of food: "I use less meat, we have given up on luxuries and we are eating more pasta. I am making my own sauces."

Rosemary Santo of Bothasig said she was horrified to discover sunflower oil had increased from R7.99 for 750ml to R15.

"I am using less of everything and buying less, but my grocery bill is more," she said.