President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to end child stunting by 2030, placing early nutrition and child wellbeing firmly back on the national agenda. In response to the State of the Nation Address and subsequent debate, DG Murray Trust CEO David Harrison welcomed the renewed focus on what he called “the basics”, food, water and protection from harm, as essential building blocks of a healthy society. In this interview, Harrison unpacks what it will take to turn commitment into action.
He explains why stunting, which affects one in four children under five, signals not only poor physical growth, but impaired brain development that limits learning and economic participation. He outlines three urgent priorities: making protein more affordable, preventing low birth weight through better maternal support, and enabling families to grow their own food.
