Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Recommendation for South Africa par. 56 and 57 (a), (b), (c) and (d) (2018)

Text of the recommendation

56. The Committee is concerned at the high incidence of food insecurity and malnutrition in the State party, particularly among children. Given the fact that, in the State party, 12 per cent of children lived in hunger in 2017 and 27 per cent of children suffered from stunting in 2016, the Committee is particularly concerned that the child support grant (at 400 rand per month) has been set far below the food poverty line and that an estimated 18 per cent of eligible children do not benefit from the grant, owing to a lack of documentation. It is further concerned at the lack of a framework law to ensurethe right to food (arts. 9 and 11).

57. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Increase the child support grant at least up to the level of the food poverty line; (b) Ensure that all eligible children benefit from the grant; (c) Expedite the adoption of the Social Assistance Amendment Bill of 2018 to increase the level of child support grants for orphaned and abandoned children living with relatives, for which it has already earmarked funds; (d) Adopt framework legislation protecting the right to adequate food and nutrition, and develop a national food and nutrition security strategy, taking into account the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security of 2004 and the Committee ’ s general comment No. 12 (1999) on the right to adequate food.