Furthermore, studies and statistics illuminate the distressing fact that many children in the province are severely malnourished as a consequence of living in abject poverty. However, the problem is not unique to the Eastern Cape, as was stated during the hybrid briefing to launch the report. "We present the findings and recommendations arising from a comprehensive inquiry carried out by the SAHRC regarding the critical issue of child malnutrition in the Eastern Cape and across our nation," said Sibanyoni. LOSS OF YOUNG LIVES For the purposes of the 94page report, said Sibanyoni, a diverse range of stakeholders had presented evidence and concerns to the commission. They included citizens, parents, educators, healthcare professionals, civil society and officials from government departments. "Their testimonies served as a powerful reminder of the profound impact of child malnutrition on our society and the urgency of the issue," he said. The chapter 9 institution is entrusted with the vital mission of fostering a culture of respect for human rights, promoting their development and protection and vigilantly monitoring adherence to them in the country. These rights include the right of children to a nutritionally sound diet. FINDINGS The report painted a grim picture of this phenomenon around the country. Sibanyoni, who was the chairperson of the panel of inquiry, said the commission found that the state had failed to prevent child malnutrition throughout the republic, particularly in the Eastern Cape. The commission also found that the inadequate child support grant and the exclusion of children from early child development centres infringed on the right to dignity of children. "The child support grant, in its current form, fails to provide the basic needs of children, including proper nutrition, which affects their physical and psychological wellbeing," he said. The investigation revealed that the exclusion of certain vulnerable children from the early childhood development space exacerbated their vulnerability and further undermined their dignity. THE RIGHT TO LIFE Sibanyoni said the right to life was sacrosanct and was intended for all citizens of the country. The commission found that the prevalence of SAM and malnutritionrelated deaths among children in the Eastern Cape was high, as evidenced by the data on child mortality. "The state's failure to ensure access to adequate food and nutrition directly contributes to preventable loss of life," he said. THE RIGHT TO FOOD The commission also found that the right to food under section 27 of the Constitution had been violated across numerous levels of government. "The evidence presented demonstrates that many children in the Eastern Cape and South Africa as a whole lack access to sufficient food, leading to malnutrition and hunger," said Sibanyoni. He said the state was obligated to pass legislation and take other measures within its available resources for the progressive realisation of these rights. THE RIGHT TO BASIC NUTRITION The commission found that the rights of children to basic nutrition had been violated. "This violation is especially produced in the context of severe acute malnutrition and the resultant child deaths in the Eastern Cape," he said. By failing to ensure that children did not go hungry, government had also failed to protect and promote their right to wellbeing and healthy development. RECOMMENDATIONS Sibanyoni said that in light of the deeply concerning state of child malnutrition in the country, the commission believed it was imperative that this crisis be addressed urgently and comprehensively. It also recommended the possibility of implementing an increase in child support grants for children of schoolgoing age and, particularly, those aged from infancy to five years. He said this group of children was the most vulnerable to malnutrition. "There is a need to collaborate with the department of home affairs to explore a registration campaign targeting unregistered children, ensuring their eligibility for social assistance programmes, including the child support grants," he said. The commission gave the state three months to respond and show efforts it had made to address the outlined problems. STATE OF DISASTER The SAHRC urged national government and the office of the premier in the Eastern Cape to declare a state of disaster, due to the high prevalence of child malnutrition in that province. A dedicated war room should also be established and centralised in the office of the premier, it said. GRANT OF CHILDREN INCREASED The commission recommended that the department of finance explore the feasibility of increasing the child support grant and collaborate urgently with the department of social development. Sibanyoni wanted both these departments to ensure that the increased grants effectively addressed the nutritional needs of children. "Let us remember that the time for action is now. The school nutrition programme also isn't enough because, if you look at the money that's budgeted per child, it's a joke We're still at a critical juncture where the future of our children, the future of our nation, hangs in the balance," he said. Sibanyoni said the potential of the children should not be stifled by malnutrition and hunger. "It's our collective responsibility to ensure that they aren't denied the opportunity to grow up healthily, to thrive and to become the leaders and innovators of tomorrow," he stated. HOLDING GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT Dr Eileen Carter, provincial manager of the SAHRC in the Eastern Cape, said it had a mandate to take government to court and hold it to account if the commission felt that it was not abiding by the recommendations of their report. "However, we're positive that government will come to the table to see how we can address this very urgent matter," she said. "There's no time to waste, so we're looking forward tn wnrkinff with isnvprnmpnt hand in hand to address the problem and implement the commission's recommendations," she added. DIRE SITUATION Petros Majola, director of Khula Community Development, an organisation advocating children's rights, said that the situation was extremely bad among communities in which everyone depended on grants to put food on the table and provide for their families. He said the children were not safe and he blamed the high rate of unemployment for their predicament. He also said the issue of absent fathers, men who did not take full responsibility for their children's safety and welfare, was an aggravating factor. "The school nutrition programme isn't enough either, because, if you look at the money that's budgeted per child, it's a joke. "Due to the poverty which leads to the deaths of these children, we've seen some mothers who'd rather kill themselves than be forced to watch their children dying ," he said. Provincial government spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie said they had noted the report. She said since the dawn of democracy, the provincial government had been implementing various policy interventions and strategies toward addressing the triple challenges of poverty, inequality, and unemployment. "While the levels of malnutrition remain very high, the province has noted a drop in the case of fatality rate due to Severe Acute Malnutrition from 11.8% in 2017 18 to 7% in 2022 2023 financial year," she said. She said the drop was attributed to intersectoral collaboration efforts which include other departments like social development, SASSA, and relevant stakeholders to tackle social determinants of health affecting child malnutrition.

Source: City Press