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Socioeconomic transformation in SA must begin with children and be based on social justice

Phakama Ntshongwana
By Phakama Ntshongwana
13 Sep 2024
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The first 1,000 days are particularly important as environmental factors can either promote sound brain development or impede optimal neurological function. These social protection features, which include adequate nutrition, access to essential healthcare and a safe physical and emotional home environment, are imperative not only for the child but also for primary caregivers if the nature and nurture balance is to be struck during early childhood development.

In its Ten-Year review of the National Development Plan, the National Planning Commission found that socio-economic transformation is well below the expected target, with inequality still the highest in the world.  

This, inevitably, affects the lives of children. The commission has, therefore, placed children at the centre of its planning. 

In the context of the country’s ageing population, and as sustainable development and transformation are still under way, inclusion and redress must begin with children. Early childhood development is a critical period in human development that starts from conception until the age of six. 

The first 1,000 days are particularly important as environmental factors can either promote sound brain development or impede optimal neurological function. These social protection features, which include adequate nutrition, access to essential healthcare and a safe physical and emotional home environment, are imperative not only for the child but also for primary caregivers if the nature and nurture balance is to be struck during early childhood development. These are detailed in the National Development Plan and provided for in the Constitution. 

Biggest weakness


In light of the high levels of poverty in the country, many households rely on the Child Support Grant to improve outcomes for children. Although the grant reaches millions of children and provides some nutritional support, its biggest weakness is its value – R530 per month in 2024 – which is too little to protect the poorest children from hunger, malnutrition and stunting. A CI study found that black African children are caught in a race and gender poverty nexus – poverty remains racially distorted and female caregivers have higher poverty rates than men.

Of the 20 million children in South Africa, more than seven million remain below the food poverty line, which is R760 per person per month in 2024. Twenty-seven percent of these children under five are stunted, according to the CI. Children who are stunted are likely to struggle to learn in school, and this affects their employment prospects later in life. Stunting is a serious concern not only for individual children, their caregivers, and households, but also for society in general, especially the public health system. 

Taking these high rates of child poverty, malnutrition and stunting into account, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child have all recommended that the Child Support Grant amount be increased. 

Compounded by poverty


Optimal early childhood development is especially challenging for children in institutions and foster care, which is further compounded by poverty. According to the Children’s Institute’s 2024 Child Gauge, the poorest households carry the greatest burden of care for orphans with nearly 40% of all orphans living in the poorest 20% of households in South Africa. 

The National Planning Commission’s Advisory on National Development Plan Implementation Priorities for the 2024-2029 Medium-Term Development Plan recommends a comprehensive review of all social welfare services to improve the availability and accessibility of social services in all districts, schools, and community offices. This includes improved provision of infrastructure and financial resources for social workers, and childcare workers, and a 2,5% increase per annum in the social development budget to strengthen human resources and general infrastructure. 

While the government of national unity ought to place quality early childhood development as one of the cornerstones of South Africa’s renewed nation-building efforts, and while the state is ultimately responsible for protecting vulnerable families, the government on its own is unable to provide a decent standard of living in the context of high rates of poverty and unemployment.  The National Planning Commission calls on all social actors and partners to make a concerted effort to support early childhood development services in the country. 

Concerted social effort


This concerted social effort was displayed when the National Planning Commission launched its early childhood development advisory note and call to action in July 2024 when a member of a civil society organisation noted: “When I see a child in front of me I ask myself, what is this child going through, what does s/he need and what can I do to help?” It was clear that the early childhood development practitioner recognised children’s humanity and dignity. 

This resonates with Unicef’s assertion that childhood is not just the space between being a child and “acquiring adulthood”, but that the quality of those years matters. Protection of these early years ought to be the case no matter their socioeconomic status. I use the phrase “acquire adulthood” because, for many children, both early childhood and the latter years can be mentally and physically exacting. 

Section 38 of the Children’s Act (2005) specifies programmes that provide families with information so that they have access to services that promote the wellbeing of children and the realisation of their full potential. The act also promotes the participation of families, caregivers, and parents in childcare literacy programmes. Although the Department of Basic Education is responsible for early childhood development, coordination of implementation with other key state stakeholders such as the Department of Social Development and the local sphere of government is imperative. The government’s medium-term plans must ensure appropriate, integrated mechanisms across all three spheres to effectively address early childhood development policy implementation. 

Based on social justice


The approach to early childhood development, including centre-based provision, must be based on social justice where quality and equity of services, including for children with disabilities, must consider the crucial effect of the formative years on the subsequent development of individuals.

Although there may be a degree of cynicism around Ubuntu as our defining philosophy because of pervasive social ills such as corruption and crime in the country, for our society to advance, we must recognise and protect each other’s humanity. This starts with protecting the humanity of our children. DM

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