Nearly 7 million SA kids going hungry, says report

The 2018 SA Child Gauge highlights high rates of child poverty, declining orphaning rates, and stretching family structures.

Almost 7 million South African children live below the food poverty line.

This means that their families cannot provide even the minimum amount of nutrition they need.

This is according to annual South African Child Gauge, a report that provides an annual snapshot of the status and development of children in this country.

Also read: New report sketches wider picture of fatherhood in SA

The 2018 SA Child Gauge has highlighted high rates of child poverty, declining orphaning rates, and stretching family structures, explains lead editor Kath Hall.

The study recommends that government should recognise changing household dynamics and improve the quality of family services.

We track child indicators and statistics on children over the years, so we've got some pretty good trends.

Kath Hall, researcher and lead editor of the South African Child Gauge 2018

We can see how policies literally impact on lives.

Kath Hall, researcher and lead editor of the South African Child Gauge 2018

We have an increasing share of female migrant workers.

Kath Hall, researcher and lead editor of the South African Child Gauge 2018

We've got 20 million children in the country and 13 million of them are below the StatsSA poverty line, which means they don't have enough money for food or their basic needs. 7 million of them are below the food poverty line, which means they don't get enough to eat.

Kath Hall, researcher and lead editor of the South African Child Gauge 2018

Read the Child Gauge overview here or download the book here.

Listen to the conversation on The Pippa Hudson Show:

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