“Where Did We Go Wrong?”: Johannesburg Woman Compares Grocery Haul for R1000 in 2010 vs 2025
- A Johannesburg woman shared a heartbreaking comparison showing how much less R1000 can buy in 2025 compared to 15 years ago
- The viral video revealed that while R1000 bought dozens of items in 2010, today it barely covers basic essentials
- South Africans flooded the comments with over 2500 shares and 2000 reactions, sharing their own experiences of struggling with rising food costs
Source: Facebook
A woman's emotional comparison of what R1000 could buy in 2010 versus today has left South Africans heartbroken about the country's economic situation.
Content creator @odwasearobber.mzuzu, who studied at Cape Peninsula University of Technology and now lives in Johannesburg, shared the viral video at the beginning of July with the caption:
"Where did we go wrong?😢🤷♀️"
The first part of her video shows her standing proudly next to a countertop overflowing with groceries, showing how much R1000 could get you. The impressive haul included fresh vegetables like cabbage, cucumber, lettuce, and tomatoes, fruits such as mangoes and bananas, dairy products including milk and yoghurt, cereals, bacon, and margarine, bottled water, cold drinks, and various sauces.
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The scene then switches to show what R1000 can buy today, a drastically smaller selection that fits on a small portion of the same countertop. Her 2025 haul included only a packet of oranges, a bag of apples, sugar, rice, and maize meal, along with two litres of Coke, two litres of another soft drink, and a bottle of water.
The difference between the two shopping trips painted a clear picture of how inflation has affected ordinary South Africans over the past 15 years. The woman's disappointed expression as she looked at the meagre 2025 groceries resonated with viewers who were experiencing the same struggles.
Source: Facebook
Mzansi shares painful experiences
The video received over 76 reactions, 2000 comments, and 2500 shares, with many South Africans relating to the struggle:
@Tshepiso Motshegwa shared:
"I tell my kids when I was their age bread was R2.50c and they asked me, so what happened, are the ingredients different? 😵💫Nope sh*t just happened 😭"
@Thato Madikologa noted:
"Even the cucumber that made you smile is gone🤭"
@Mbali Mofokeng commented:
"We put Cyril Ramaphosa as the president, twice even!"
@Tsholo Keoikantse Botlholo added:
"Then there's electricity units 😭"
@Manstanley Makamo joked:
"Now I understand why Boxer say buy 1 for 99,99 and 3 for 300."
@MommaBee Mokhele shared:
"😢I just came back from Shoprite now, hake sharp😭😭😭, had to go through my slip hoping they miscalculated, lutho those little things worth that much money."
Rising costs hit families hard
Food prices in South Africa have risen dramatically due to multiple factors including inflation, increased fuel costs, higher taxes, and economic challenges. Basic items like bread, which used to cost under R3, now sell for significantly more, making it difficult for families to maintain the same standard of living they enjoyed years ago.
The video struck a chord with South Africans who are feeling the pinch of rising living costs. Many families now have to choose between essential items or find creative ways to stretch their grocery budgets. What was once considered a decent weekly shopping budget can now barely cover a few days' worth of necessities.
Watch the Facebook reel below:
Other stories of grocery shopping
- Briefly News recently reported on a South African woman who discovered a Woolworth's prosciutto pack that cost a shocking R10,000, leaving viewers gasping at luxury grocery prices that most people could never afford.
- A lucky woman received over five grocery bags from her generous mother-in-law, creating envy among South Africans who wished they had such thoughtful family support during tough economic times.
- A content creator showed how to make R200 stretch at Food Lovers Market during their special promotion, proving that smart shopping can still help families survive rising costs.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
