20-05-2025
Maternal support grant not implemented 10 years on
JOHANNESBURG - More than a decade after first being proposed, the Maternal Support Grant has still not been approved.
Cabinet's Social Protection Committee sent the policy back last year, noting cost and policy concerns.
According to the Grow Great Campaign, 25% of all pregnant women go to bed hungry.
Civil society says government inaction is hurting mothers and their unborn children.
Among the voices raising concern, is the Grow Great Campaign.
The campaigns Deputy Executive Director, Nicola Stofberg says the policy process have been painfully slow despite strong evidence and support.
Says some of the factors that have played a role in stalling the process is other competing grants being proposed.
'While we understand that other competing grants like the basic income grant, social relief of distress grant are all necessary, what the coalition is saying is let us prioritise vulnerable woman. This will make way of the other grants to come into place in time,' she says
