In South Africa, poverty is highest amongst children.  Despite the impressive roll-out and expansion of the Child Support Grant (CSG) which now reaches 69% of all children (according to the Department of Social Development); more than half of our children (56%) still live below the poverty line and nearly a third of children under the age of five (30%) are stunted, wasted or underweight. 

This suggests that stunting in children is occurring amongst significant numbers of households who are receiving child support grants.  Studies indicate that the CSG is well targeted and is being used for its intended purpose but it is not enough to sufficiently break the poverty cycle or improve our economic, social, education and health outcomes. 

PACSA’s research on food prices finds that the CSG rand value of R320 is not enough even to meet a child’s basic nutritional needs, which in December was R489.88.  It means that children are not eating enough nutritious food which negatively effects children’s cognitive and physical development, health and wellbeing; and that other essential expenditures on education, health care, transport, clothes and shoes are unlikely to be absorbed.

The PACSA monthly food price barometer publication consists of (1) a media statement; (2) the food price data; and (3) notes and materials to explain how the figures were generated.