Child poverty on the increase since 2011 – report
Child poverty has continued its upward trend since the Covid-19 lockdown, according to the Child Poverty and Child Support Grant Review Report.
Last year, just over seven million children lived below the poverty line, the highest since 2011.
Dr. Kath Hall, a senior researcher at the Children's Institute, co-presented the findings of the latest report in Johannesburg on Friday.
She said the child support grant has helped protect children from economic shocks such as the pandemic.
"Recipients of the grant are likely relative to others' income spend more on food and less on what it’s called 'sins' or alcohol, tobacco and gambling.
“Their child health outcomes that are really important so more early access to growth monitoring at clinics, that also means you are in touch with clinics, immunisation rates are better and health outcomes are being documented."
But Hall warned that with annual increases, the grant hasn't kept up with rising food prices.
She says if the R500 child support grant is increased to the food poverty line, another 1.5 million children will be above the poverty line.
The 2023 food poverty line is R760 per person per month.
"A lower bound poverty line, just over R1 000 per month is a bit more complicated because it requires sacrifice, because you have got to sacrifice some essentials in order to get enough food to eat or else you sacrifice food because you need to buy school shoes," says Hall.
"Stats SA has warned in its report it is the line which one has to choose between these items which is a hard thing to do. The food poverty line is R760 per person per month is just enough for basic food and it is about meeting the calories that are recommended by the World Health Organisation."
