South Africa’s food system is failing children – what must change

Publié: 15 juillet 2026, 15:30 CEST

Many children live in areas where access to nutritious food is limited.

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Child malnutrition in South Africa casts a long shadow across the life course. For example, stunting or being short for their age compromises children’s physical growth and their brain development in ways that limit their education and employment prospects.

Stunted and overweight children are both at greater risk of developing noncommunicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension. These conditions are placing a huge – and growing – burden on South Africa’s healthcare system.