South Africa wants to put an end to child stunting and malnutrition, but experts say the fight has to start before a baby is born. Yet pregnant women living in poverty can only access a child grant once their baby has been born and registered. A coalition of organisations and researchers is now calling on the state to pay a maternal grant of R560 a month to pregnant women who qualify. RSG spoke to Prof Christine Taljaard-Krugell, a nutrition and public health researcher at North-West University’s Centre of Excellence for Nutrition.
Moneyweb Interview: SA must not miss an opportunity to fund the Maternal Support Grant
South Africa has promised to end child stunting, but a pregnant woman living in poverty still gets no targeted support from the state until her
October 16, 2026
