The hearings follow the Commission’s Provincial Inquiry into the Right to Food and Child Malnutrition in 2022, and the subsequent tabling of the Commission’s Malnutrition Report in Parliament in 2023. Despite the Report’s clear recommendations, implementation has been slow, fragmented and inadequate. This ongoing failure constitutes a direct violation of fundamental human rights, including section 28(1)(c): every child’s right to basic nutrition, section 27(1)(b): the right to sufficient food and water, section 10: the right to dignity and section 11: the right to life.

The Commission is gravely concerned that, in the absence of urgent and coordinated action, children in the Eastern Cape and across South Africa will continue to die from preventable malnutrition and hunger. The situation demands accountability at the highest levels of government.

It is for this reason that the Commission has called the hearings to secure from the mentioned Departments accountability, compel detailed implementation plans, and ensure urgent multisectoral action to prevent further child deaths.

Failure to comply with the subpoenas without just cause constitutes an offence under section 22 of the SAHRC Act and may result in fines or imprisonment.

The details of the subpoena hearing are as follows:

• Date: 11 September - 12 September 2025
• Time: 09H00 – 16H00
• Place: Conference room, Regent Hotel, East London

The subpoena hearing panel members include Commission Philile Ntuli and Commissioner Sandra Makoasha. This will also be live streamed on the Commission’s YouTube channel @https://www.youtube.com/@SAHRC1, and proceedings will be shared on all Commission’s platforms. The Commission further invites civil society as well as members of the public who wish to make written submissions to the Commission on this hearing, to submit same to Dr E Carter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before 10 September 2025.

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