Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu has launched a review into Child Poverty and The Child Support Grant Report. The Department of Social Development (DSD) commissioned the Children's Institute at the University of Cape Town (UCT) to conduct a comprehensive examination of child poverty and the effectiveness of the grant programme.
The Child Support Grant (CSG) is one of the many permanent grants distributed by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa). The value of the child support grant was increased in October 2023 and is now worth R510.
The launch event aims to explore various topics, including the efficiency of the Child Support Grant, the utilisation of funds by families, and the broader socioeconomic context of child poverty in the country.
The event seeks to highlight the challenges faced by families and children in South Africa and explore potential solutions to address child poverty, acknowledging that economic factors are just one aspect of the issue.
Minister Zulu stressed that it is crucial that the comprehensive social plan must be taken seriously and implemented correctly to improve the lives of vulnerable children living in South Africa.
We should live in the comfort of what we are doing to create a brighter future for our people
Are Grants Enough?
The PMBEJD estimates that in September 2023 the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet per month is R907,43. This is the value of the Basic Nutritional Food Basket, a measurement of the cost of food for families to ensure their health and nutrition and for children to grow and develop properly.
In September 2023, the Child Support Grant (R500) is 34% below the food poverty line (R760) & 45% below the average cost to secure a basic nutritious diet for a child (R907,43).
The consequences of this means that stunting levels in boy children under 5 years are currently 30% while the stunting levels in girl children under 5 years are 25%. This indicates the inadequacy of the CSG.
The economic challenges currently facing South Africa, including high inflation and a cost of living crisis, is adding to the strain on families, affecting their ability to provide for their children adequately.
