The tragic death of 9-year-old Alti Willard in early February—who died while scavenging for food in rubbish bins—highlights the ongoing food insecurity crisis in South Africa. This incident underscores the stark reality of a nation with the resources to feed its people but struggling with a deepening triple burden of malnutrition: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and unhealthy diets.
Recent findings from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) reveal that food insecurity affects 63.5% of households, with 17.5% facing severe insecurity. This situation is particularly dire for children, as nearly 28.8% of children under five suffer from stunting, a sign of chronic undernutrition. The link between food insecurity and child malnutrition is clear, with food insecurity affecting 83.3% of households with stunted children under five. Each year, 1,000 children die from preventable acute malnutrition, and 2.7 million children under six live in households where basic nutritional needs are unmet.
The COVID-19 pandemic and rising food prices have worsened this situation. While South Africa has social safety nets, including the child support grant, these measures are insufficient. For example, the current grant of R530 (US$28) per child is not enough to cover the cost of a healthy food basket, which amounts to R945 (US$51). There’s also a significant challenge in enrolling infants into the child support grant due to delays in registration, meaning that many children miss out on vital support.
Despite the presence of initiatives like the National School Nutrition Programme, which feeds over 9 million children annually, and community-driven programs, these efforts are often unsustainable and limited in reach. To truly address the food insecurity crisis, South Africa needs multi-sectoral solutions. This includes increasing the value of social grants to match the cost of healthy food, improving the enrollment process for infants, and ensuring better coordination between government departments.
Additionally, expanding nutrition programs for early childhood development, addressing gender inequalities in food security, and providing better support for caregivers—especially those facing mental health challenges related to food insecurity—are all crucial steps. By implementing these comprehensive measures, South Africa can begin to address the root causes of its malnutrition crisis and ensure that no child has to search for food in a refuse bin.
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