Africa
Rising cost of maize felt in South Africa
Drought and weakening currency mean staple food of millions now costs 40 per cent more than it did last year.
Last Modified: 12 Aug 2012 09:36

The staple food of millions of South Africans - mealie meal, or maize - now costs 40 per cent more than it did at the same time last year.

Drought in the US has destroyed crops and caused food prices to rise across the world.

In South Africa, this is aggravated by the rand weakening against the US dollar, which has made it even more expensive to import maize into the country.

It is unlikely the situation will improve for consumers before next year.

Al Jazeera's Tania Page reports from South Africa.

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