The Democratic Alliance has welcomed Cabinet's decision to consider removing tax from basic food items and the possible provision of food vouchers to the poor.

"The provision of food vouchers in cases of emergency has been a policy-tenet of the DA for a number of years," DA finance spokesperson Kobus Marais said on Tuesday.

Marais said it was important for South Africa's most vulnerable to be protected from the effects of steeply rising food prices.

It was also necessary to provide a basic income grant (BIG) of R120 per month for anyone earning less than R7500 a year, who was not receiving any other government grant.

"A BIG would effectively reach the millions of South Africans in the poorest households who are not receiving any form of social assistance," Marais said.

"In addition to the proposals currently on the table, the government must also consider increasing the coverage of school-feeding schemes so that schools in all vulnerable areas are properly covered."