President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the School Nutrition Programme as one of South Africa’s most impactful pro-poor programmes since the dawn of democracy.
The President delivered a keynote address at the 7th Social Justice Summit held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
The school nutrition programme feeds some 9.7 million children from indigent households during the week, with studies showing the positive impact it has on learner attendance, concentration and academic performance.
“Put into perspective even further, when one is quantifying the longer-term impact, last year, learners from quintile 1 - 3 schools accounted for 67% of all bachelor passes. These learners, who now have the opportunity to go on to achieve their dreams, will have received 12 full years of nutrition support at school through this programme.
“Without a shadow of doubt, the School Nutrition Programme is one of the most transformative, pro-poor and pro-development policies to have emanated from our democratic dispensation. It is more than just a support system; it is a strategic effort to promote a healthier, more educated future,” President Ramaphosa said.
Furthermore, government has gone on to ensure that these learners receive two meals a day at school.
“...[Learners] now get two meals a day - breakfast and lunch - because as children come to school in the morning, they have invariably not had breakfast.
“This is a real impactful change,” he added.
Additionally, social grants are also playing a critical role in feeding the households that some of these learners come from.
“The social grant system is a lifeline for millions of South Africans, who rely on grants to feed themselves and their families. The impact of social grants on supporting nutrition cannot be understated.
“There is a vast body of research from government as well as civil society organisations backing up the assertion that grants are associated with better nutrition and lower food insecurity.
“The National Income Dynamics Study/Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey… found that the Social Relief of Distress or SRD grant introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of people below the food poverty line by 2 million in 2021,” President Rampho sa said.
Government interventions
President Ramaphosa continued to outline government’s efforts to fight food insecurity since the dawn of democracy.
He pointed to “provincially managed programmes to support food production in the form of backyard food gardens”as one example.
Nutrition at a primary health level is also being prioritised through initiatives including breastfeeding promotion, micronutrient supplementation for pregnant women and a National Obesity Strategy.
“Since 2003, we have also implemented a mandatory food fortification programme for staples like wheat and maize flour to combat micronutrient deficiencies and improve nutrition.
“We have [also] leveraged fiscal and market-based measures to improve food affordability. Since 1991, we have implemented zero-rating of the basic foods basket to support low-income households, and this list continues to be expanded.
“In 2018, we began implementing a health promotion levy on sweetened beverages to support efforts to decrease diabetes, obesity and other related diseases,” President Ramaphosa highlighted.
He called on the summit attendees to “reaffirm the conviction that social justice cannot exist in the presence of hunger”.
“Let it remind us that the realisation of the right to food is not only a measure of policy success, but a test of our collective conscience,” President Ramaphosa said.
The summit leverages the country’s G20 leadership to champion the African agenda and global cooperation.
As a platform for intersectoral collaboration, the summit deliberates constitutional commitments and policy outcomes, including the positioning of food justice as a transformative driver of social cohesion, regional food security and global solidarity. - SAnews.gov.za
