A coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and researchers is urging the South African government to approve a Maternal Support Grant (MSG) to help poor pregnant women. This Maternal Support Grant South Africa initiative is crucial as child poverty and malnutrition continue to rise.
The Maternal Support Grant South Africa proposal, led by Hold My Hand, Change Ideas and Grow Great (an initiative of the DG Murray Trust), estimates that the grant would cost about R2 billion annually. This amounts to just 0.1% of government spending. However, it could save nearly R13.8 billion by preventing low-birth-weight births and stunting.
“This grant is a realisable opportunity to support pregnant women with a financial lifeline and economic agency when they need it most,” says Julie Mentor, Project Lead at Embrace.
The proposed grant would reach around 800 000 women for nine months. It would begin in the second trimester and continue three months after birth.
Additionally, it would act as a bridge to the Child Support Grant (CSG). This ensures that newborns receive proper nutrition during their first months, a critical period for brain and body development.
“Income support during pregnancy improves maternal and child nutrition, lowers maternal stress and reduces the incidence of low-birth-weight babies. This is a key predictor of stunting,” says Liezel Engelbrecht, Nutrition Lead at DG Murray Trust.
Nearly 70% of South African children live in poverty, with almost 40% of households unable to meet basic nutritional needs.
“Children who do not receive proper nutrition in the womb and early months are more likely to face stunting. They also encounter poor cognitive development and lower educational outcomes,” warns Nicola Eley, Deputy Director of Grow Great.
The coalition emphasises that the MSG is not charity but justice. It aims to support women in informal work who are excluded from maternity benefits. This would help reduce inequality and break intergenerational cycles of poverty.
Advocates also highlight that nearly half of eligible infants do not access the CSG in their first year. This leaves a gap in crucial early nutrition. Implementing the MSG would ensure financial support reaches families earlier, improving health and long-term educational outcomes.
The coalition is calling on the Department of Social Development to table the MSG policy before Cabinet without delay. Doing so would ensure pregnant women and their unborn children receive the support they need.
