This document summarizes child poverty and hunger in South Africa. Over 18 million children live in the country, with 62% living below the upper poverty line and 13% suffering from hunger. Two-thirds of food poor children live in three provinces - KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo. Stunting rates remain high and dietary diversity is low, especially among low-income households. While surveys collect some nutrition data, gaps exist in regular collection of dietary intake and anthropometric measurements at local levels. Expanding social grants and providing nutritional support for mothers could help address these issues.

1. Child poverty and hunger in South Africa
Winnie Sambu
Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town
‘Putting Children First: Identifying Solutions and Taking Action to
Tackle Child Poverty and Inequality in Africa’
23 – 25 October 2017, Addis Ababa.

3. Food insecurity and poverty
• Globally, 815 million people suffer from undernourishment (FAO et.al, 2017).
• Lack of adequate food increases risk of child malnutrition, including stunting.
• 155 million children under 5 years were stunted in 2016 (UNICEF, WHO & World
Bank, 2017).
• 38% of stunted children live in Africa.
• Malnutrition associated with poor outcomes in childhood and adulthood.
• Poverty is an underlying factor of child malnutrition.

4. South Africa
• Middle income country.
• High levels of poverty and inequality.
• 56 million people – a third aged 0 – 17 years.
• Children disproportionately affected by poverty and many forms of deprivation.
• High levels of child malnutrition.

5. The Children Count project
• An ongoing data and advocacy project of the
Children’s Institute.
• Monitors the situation of children in South Africa,
and progress made in realising their socio-economic
rights.
o Use of a rights based framework (international & local
laws)
• Household survey data used to produce child
centred estimates.
• Over 40 indicators monitored on an annual basis.
Demography
Income & Social grants
Housing & Services
Education
HIV & Health
Nutrition

9. The General Household Survey (GHS)
• Annual survey – since 2002.
• Large sample size – approximately 30,000 households per survey.
• Nationally representative, allows for provincial level analysis.
• Collects data on demography, income, living conditions.
• Possible food security indicators using the GHS:
o Food poverty
o Hunger
o Adult dietary diversity – 24 hour recall

10. Demography of children in SA
• 18.6 million children (0 - 17 years old).
o 5.2 million children under 5 years.
• Three provinces hold half of SA’s children.
• Majority of children now live in urban areas of the country. However, some
provinces remain largely rural.
• 64% of children live in the poorest 40% of households.
• There are striking disparities in socio-economic conditions across provinces.

11. Demography of children in SA
Number of
children
% in urban
areas
% in rural areas % in
formal
housing
% in
overcrowded
conditions
% in poorest
40% of
households
Eastern Cape 2 644 000 39% 61% 56% 22% 82%
Free State 886 000 85% 15% 84% 21% 64%
Gauteng 3 630 000 97% 3% 87% 18% 41%
KwaZulu-Natal 4 063 000 38% 62% 72% 17% 77%
Limpopo 2 199 000 16% 84% 93% 12% 80%
Mpumalanga 1 559 000 34% 66% 87% 10% 66%
North West 1 291 000 46% 54% 82% 23% 68%
Northern Cape 409 000 69% 31% 85% 22% 63%
Western Cape 1 896 000 95% 5% 83% 22% 38%
South Africa 18 576 000 56% 44% 79% 18% 64%

12. Income poverty
Food poverty line
Minimum energy intake of 2,100 kilocalories per person per day.
Valued at R415 in 2015; approximately USD 2.5 PPP per person per day.
Lower bound poverty line
Those living above this line can cater for some basic food and non-food items.
Valued at R701 in 2015; approximately USD 3.8 (PPP) per person per day.
Upper bound poverty line
Value above which households can afford basic food and non-food items.
Valued at R965 in 2015; approximately USD 5.8 (PPP) per person per day.

13. South African – an overview
59%
65%
78%
63%
35%
80%
74%
63%39%
% of children living below the upper bound poverty line
79%
62%
2003 2015
62% of children live below the upper bound poverty line
Source: General Household Survey, 2015.

14. Children living in food poverty
Nothern Cape
2%
Western Cape
3%
Free State
5%
North West
7%
Mpumalanga
8%
Gauteng
9%Limpopo
17%
E Cape
22%
KwaZulu-Natal
27%
Share of food poverty across provinces
• Food poverty line - approximately $2.5
(PPP) per person per day
• 5.5 million children living in food poverty;
Two thirds (66%) of food poor children live
in three provinces
• 2.2 million children live in households
where per capita income is ½ the value of
the food poverty line
• In 2003, 58% of children were food poorSource: General Household Survey, 2015.

15. Child hunger
• Hunger defined as “an uncomfortable or
painful sensation caused by insufficient food
energy consumption”. (FAO, 2008:3 ).
• It occurs due to lack of physical or/and
economic access to food
• Absence of child hunger does not suggest food
security.
• Children who are not hungry may be
consuming foods that are low in quantity and
quality
2002
31%
2015
13%
2.4 million
children suffer
from hunger
Children who go hungry sometimes, often
and always suffer from hunger (Children
Count)

16. • No substantial decrease in child hunger
rates since 2006.
• In 2015, children in the poorest quintile
were 36 times more likely than those in
the richest quintile to suffer from
hunger.
• 2.6 million children living in households
which either ran out of money to buy
food, ate a smaller variety, cut the size
of meals or skipped meals altogether
0%
20%
40%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Child hunger rates by income quintile (2006 -
2015)
1
(poorest)
2 3 4 5
(richest)
South Africa
Source: General Household Survey, 2015.
Child hunger

17. 61% 60% 61% 59%
63%
28% 28% 28% 28% 28%
9% 9% 9% 9% 7%
2% 3% 1% 3% 1%1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Lack money for food Cut size of meals Skipped meals Ate smaller variety of
food
Cut size, skipped meals &
ate smaller variety
% of children experiencing food insecurity, across income quintiles (2015)
1 (poorest) 2 3 4 5 (richest)
Source: General Household Survey, 2015.

18. Child hunger & adult dietary diversity
• 38% of children living in households with
low DDS lived in food poverty (P<0.001)
• Child hunger rates highest in households
with adults who consumed diets low in
diversity
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Low Medium High
Dietary diversity, child hunger and food poverty
Child hunger Food poverty
Source: General Household Survey, 2015.

19. Other aspects of nutrition to consider…
• Stunting rates are high
• Micronutrient deficiencies – 44% of
children aged 12 -59 months suffer from
Vitamin A deficiencies
• Only 32% of children aged 0 - 6 months
are exclusively breastfed (SADHS, 2016)
• 77% of children aged 6 – 23 months not
fed a minimum acceptable diet (SADHS,
2016)
25%
17%
8% 8%
14%
5% 5% 6% 6% 6%
0%
20%
40%
60%
6 mths - 2
yrs
3-4 yrs 5-6 yrs 7-9 yrs TOTAL
Stunting
Underweight
Source: National Income Dynamics Study (2014/2015). Analysis by
Winnie Sambu, Children’s Institute, UCT.

20. Low consumption of fruits and vegetables
27%
30%
42%
54%
81%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
poorest 20%
2
3
4
richest 20%
Children in households that consumed fruit (2008)
58%
67%
72%
78%
89%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
poorest 20%
2
3
4
richest 20%
Children living in households that consumed
vegetables (2008)
Source: National Income Dynamics Study (2008). Analysis by Winnie Sambu, Children’s Institute, UCT.

21. Other aspects of nutrition to consider…
• Dietary diversity levels are low, especially amongst low income households
and those living in rural areas
• Significant differences in consumption of dairy products, meats and fruits
across geographical areas, with low consumption of these foods in urban
informal, and rural areas
• Foods considered healthier are more expensive
• Food inflation higher than overall inflation
• Child Support Grant value is low and cannot cater for the minimum
nutritional requirements for a child

22. Nutrition - data
Food security
indicators:
• Dietary intake
• Dietary quality
• Anthropometric
measurements
• Income - food poverty
• Subjective measures
Irregular surveys
• Food Consumption surveys
• South African Health & Nutrition Surveys
• SA Demographic and Health Surveys
Five year interval
• Income & Expenditure Survey
• Living Conditions Survey
Other surveys
• National Income Dynamics Study
Annual survey
• The General Household Survey

23. Gaps and opportunities
Gaps
• There is lack of regular and timely data on
dietary intake and anthropometric
measurements
• Some surveys collect data, but this is not
publicly available.
• Data is limited to national level, and only
available for particular age groups.
• Data available at household level.
Opportunities
• Possibility of a maternity grant
• Increase uptake of the Child Support
Grant for very young children
• Provide nutritional support for mothers,
and support for breastfeeding

24. www.childrencount.uct.ac.za
Contact: winnie.sambu@uct.ac.za