SOCIAL Development in the Eastern Cape has set aside more than R70 million to tackle child poverty, malnutrition and teenage pregnancy in the province.
Speaking during the tabling of the department’s policy speech in the Eastern Cape Legislature, MEC Bukiwe Fanta said her department is determined to reduce poverty from spreading throughout families and communities.
In response to the Human Rights Commission’s recent findings on child poverty, Fanta said her department would ensure access and coverage for vulnerable mothers and children in the 39 poorest wards and child malnutrition hotspot areas through holistic services rendered in their Mother and Child Development and Support Programme.
“In an effort to reduce poverty, the department during this financial year will establish a Food Bank which will contribute to the Provincial Food and Nutrition Security plan coordinated by the Department of Agriculture and respond to disasters and food shortages.
“Food insecurity in this province has increased significantly, with grant-reliant households seeing an increase in moderate to severe food insecurity. This underscores the mounting strain on disadvantaged groups, especially children, women and persons with disabilities,” said Fanta.
She added that the department will implement 138 household and 153 community profiling through integrated social mobilisation programmes, and in addition link social grant recipients to sustainable livelihood initiatives to promote resilience, empowerment and participation.
“Furthermore, we will mobilise 202 integrated community mobilisation structures targeting 36,776 people to coordinate their own development and enhance social inclusion. This will contribute to the goal of promoting self-reliance and sustainability within communities, ultimately helping communities overcome poverty.”
She added that the department remains committed to addressing food security in the province through implementing food security projects, community nutrition development centres and 345 household food gardens.
Fanta added that an additional R8.9 million would be made available for food parcels in the province.
In providing social protection to the poor and vulnerable groups, the department will continue providing Social Relief of Distress in the form of material aid, including food parcels, school uniforms, blankets and mattresses, targeting 4,626 people for the 2025/26 financial year.
“The department has also set aside more than R46.3 million for Sanitary Dignity Packs for a targeted 138,794 learners. The services of social protection will be extended to girl learners from Quintiles 1 to 3 and other children in support, special and farm schools to ensure that they are kept at school as contained in the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP). 138,794 girl learners will be targeted for the distribution of Sanitary Dignity Packs.”
