Latest news with #MaternalSupportGrant
The South African
4 days ago
- Health
- The South African
Future of SASSA grant for pregnant women hangs in the balance
Did you know that a SASSA grant for pregnant women has been on the table for some time now? First tabled in 2012, it's known as the Maternal Support Grant (MSG), and it's a shame it has been in limbo for more than a decade. At its heart, a SASSA grant for pregnant women hopes to address the fact that nearly one-third of children born in South Africa are stunted. This is due to poor nourishment of the mother. In fact, 2.5 million people live in nutritionally insecure households, according to the South African Medical Research Council. Even though it will cost billions annually, the savings a maternity grant will bring are said to be ten-fold. Image: File As such, mothers who are malnourished during pregnancy have much higher odds of poor birth outcomes. This includes low birthweight, poor neurodevelopment, and increased risk of chronic disease later in life. This is why the proposed SASSA grant for pregnant women came about. And many in civil society say the South African Social Security Agency should combine it as an extension of the existing R570 Child Support Grant. However, despite the draft policy being 13-years old, the Department of Social Development (DSD) says it still hasn't reached Cabinet. Last year, in November 2024, the policy was submitted to the Social Protection, Community and Human Development (SPCHD) Cabinet Committee. But it was sent back for 'further work,' saying poverty, unemployment and inequality need to be addressed jointly. In more than a decade, the DSD has not even presented the draft policy to Cabinet. Image: File Some worry a SASSA grant for pregnant women would 'incentivise child birth and create a dependency syndrome.' However, civil society says it has been more than a decade since the DSD commissioned research on the benefits of a SASSA grant for pregnant women. And in that time the body of evidence in its favour has only grown stronger. Therefore, the absence of income support for pregnant women is a big gap in the country's social security framework. According to advocacy groups, a SASSA grant for pregnant women would require in the region of R1.9 billion to R3.2 billion annually. However, the potential saving to public health would exceed R13 billion. It is therefore a critical investment into the future of the nation. But what do you think …? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
eNCA
20-05-2025
- Health
- eNCA
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
Eyewitness News
19-05-2025
- Health
- Eyewitness News
Grant to prevent malnutrition is in limbo
More than a decade since it was first proposed, the Maternal Support Grant (MSG) policy remains in limbo. 'Children of mothers who are malnourished in pregnancy have higher odds of poor birth outcomes, including low birthweight, undernutrition, poor neurodevelopment, and increased risk of chronic diseases in later life,' says Dr Wanga Zembe, senior specialist scientist at the South African Medical Research Council. In South Africa, 29% of children under five are stunted, and 2.5-million live in nutritionally insecure households. This comes as civil society groups have renewed calls for the government to fast-track the process to get monetary support to pregnant women. The current proposal suggests that the maternal grant be an extension of the existing Child Support Grant. But this may not happen anytime soon. This week, the Department of Social Development (DSD) confirmed that the draft MSG policy, in the making since 2012, has not yet reached Cabinet. In November 2024, the draft policy was submitted to the Social Protection, Community and Human Development (SPCHD) Cabinet Committee, but was 'sent back for further work,' said department spokesperson Bathembu Futshane. He said the committee 'did not obtain general support' for the draft and raised several issues, including the need for a joint government approach to poverty, unemployment and inequality. The current proposal suggests that the maternal grant be an extension of the existing Child Support Grant (CSG). Other recommendations included factoring in fiscal constraints, avoiding 'creating a dependency syndrome,' considering conditions for the grant, and aligning with food security and economic transformation goals, he said. But civil society groups believe this delay is 'deeply disappointing'. The MSG Advocacy Coalition, made up of organisations and researchers, said: 'It has been more than a decade since the DSD commissioned research on the benefits of a pregnancy support grant. That body of evidence has only grown stronger.' The coalition said the South African Law Reform Commission had already identified the absence of income support for pregnant women as a gap in the country's social security framework and recommended a pregnancy grant. 'It is unclear what the binding constraint is, considering the coherent legal arguments in favour of the MSG and the urgent need to improve maternal and infant nutrition.' The group urged the DSD to talk openly with other departments and prepare the policy for resubmission. 'While DSD has demonstrated support for the MSG, buy-in from across government is needed, starting with the Presidency.' According to the group, the MSG would require between R1.89-billion and R3.26-billion annually. But potential savings to the public health system could exceed R13-billion by preventing low birth weight complications, the group said. 'Social protections are not acts of charity, they are critical investments.' WHY SHOULD PREGNANT MOTHERS GET STATE SUPPORT? According to Dr Wanga Zembe: 'It is essential for pregnant women to have access to nutritious food, as a baby's survival — both as a foetus in-utero and as a child once born — literally depends on it.' Zembe said maternal nutrition is key to foetal development, immune systems and cognitive ability. She warned that poor maternal nutrition has 'far-reaching consequences' for a child's life, productivity and long-term health. 'Stunting has devastating impacts on child development, especially cognitive development, leading to delays, poor school performance and reduced productivity.' Zembe referred to UNICEF's 2021 global guidance on maternal nutrition study, which highlighted the importance of improving women's diets before and during pregnancy as well as while breastfeeding. A 2024 Global Health Action review found that conditional cash transfers for women in Sub-Saharan Africa were associated with improved child survival rates, reduced foetal and infant mortality, and enhanced functional health outcomes, such as decreased illness episodes. Unconditional cash transfers were linked to improved maternal well-being, including fewer symptoms of depression. (Conditional cash transfers require recipients to meet specific criteria, like attending health checkups, while unconditional grants would be given without any requirements.) Nicola Eley, deputy director at the Grow Great campaign, said, '25% of all pregnant women in SA have reported going to bed hungry. That's not just a statistic. It represents thousands of mothers and their unborn babies and futures being shaped.' She said the first 1,000 days, from conception to a child's second birthday, are critical. 'Stunting impairs both physical and brain development. It compromises learning, weakens immune systems and increases lifelong health risks.' Eley said people can only apply for the child support grant once the child is born, with 52% of eligible children accessing it only after their first birthday. 'By then, the critical window for brain and body development has passed. It's like trying to build a house after the foundation has started crumbling.' Meanwhile, the MSG Advocacy Coalition has refuted claims that the MSG will 'incentivise pregnancy and create dependency'. This article first appeared on GroundUp. Read the original article here.
