As South Africans’ economic circumstances worsen, so do household health and nutrition.
And children are bearing the brunt of their parents’ inability to put nutritious food on the table.
The latest Household Affordability Index report, compiled by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group, showed that in February the R460 child support grant was 26% below the food poverty line of R624 and 40% below the average R771.95 cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet.
“In its annual adjustments, government chose to increase the child support grant by R20 from April 2022. This is an increase of 4.3%,” said the report.
It found that the latest increase would move the grant to 23% below the food poverty line.
“Year on year, the cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet has increased by R61.20 or 8.6%.”
As children grow older, their nutritional needs differ and the cost increases. In January 2022 it cost, per month:
- R684.06 to feed a small child aged 3 to 9.
- R743.33 to feed a small child aged 10 to 13.
- R788.36 to feed a girl aged 14 to 18.
- R889.41 to feed a boy aged 14 to 18.
“Perhaps it is ignorance or short-sightedness [that government] does not see proper nutrition as important for our millions of children and the future of our country,” said Mervyn Abrahams, programme coordinator.
“But it happens ever year, where the annual increase becomes more and more ridiculous, as [if] to suggest this is not a mistake; it is intentional.
“A child support grant set at nearly a third below the food poverty line and 40% below the cost of a basic nutritious diet becomes an instrument to institutionalise inequity among black children.
“Perhaps there are a million other explanations for not prioritising our children’s nutrition and health. However, in the absence of reason, we might better look at the consequences to see government’s intentions,” said Abrahams.
According to the report, the cost of the foods prioritised and bought first in the household food basket is important.
“The core foods are bought first and these ensure families do not go hungry, while ensuring meals can be cooked.
“When the prices of core foods increase, there is less money to secure other important, mostly nutritionally rich foods, which are essential for health, wellbeing and strong immune systems, like meat, eggs and dairy, which are critical for protein, iron and calcium; vegetables and fruit, which are critical for vitamins, minerals and fibre; and maas, peanut butter and pilchards, good fats, protein and calcium [which are] essential for children.
“The data show that the core foods contribute 53% of the cost of the household food basket.
“At an average of R2,303.78 in February 2022, these foods are relatively very expensive in relation to the money available in the household purse to secure food. These foods must be bought, regardless of price escalations.
“The high cost of core staple foods results in a lot of proper nutritious food being removed off the family plates. The consequences of high costs on the core foods have a negative impact on overall household health and wellbeing, and child development.
Households living on low incomes change their purchasing patterns in response to changes in affordability conditions.
— Household Affordability Index report
“Households living on low incomes change their purchasing patterns in response to changes in affordability conditions.
“On low incomes, women buy the core staple foods first so their families do not go hungry and [items] for basic meals to be prepared.
“Where the money remaining is short, women have no choice but to drop foods from their trolleys or reduce the volumes of nutritionally rich foods in their trolleys.
“This has negative consequences for health, wellbeing and nutrition. The gap between what women are able to buy and what they need to buy for proper nutrition widens,” the report said.
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