Structural inequality leaves pregnant women and their children vulnerable to poverty, poor nutrition, and stunting. Despite strong evidence that early intervention can break these cycles, South Africa’s social protection system continues to exclude pregnant women. A Maternal Support Grant (MSG) could be a critical investment in health and economic mobility—but Cabinet has yet to approve the policy.
During a LinkedIn Live event on 27 March, we explored three key arguments:
1. The social justice case—why supporting pregnant women is a matter of rights and equity.
2. The health case—how maternal nutrition impacts child development and long-term outcomes.
3. The economic case—why investing in maternal well-being benefits society at large.
Deputy CEO, Kentse Radebe, hosted this Perspectives Series event and she spoke to leading experts Paula Proudlock (UCT Children’s Institute), Dr Wanga Zembe-Mkabile (SA Medical Research Council), and Dr Janine Hicks (UKZN) to unpack the evidence and discuss how we can move this critical policy forward.
Missed this event? Watch a recording of it below.
