SONA 2026: The president wants to end stunting – here’s how South Africa can achieve this

DGMT welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment in this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), to end stunting by 2030.

The announcement comes just two months after his Cabinet approved the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children, which sets 10 national priorities to improve the lives of children and teenagers.

In the SONA, the president said his government will focus on interventions in the first 1000 days of life, from conception to a child’s second birthday – a critical period for child growth and development.

Evidence shows that the risk of stunting increases when babies are born with a low birthweight (under 2.5kg) and they never catch up because their mothers were malnourished or drank alcohol while pregnant.

So, it’s encouraging that the president wants to “implement targeted interventions to ensure that pregnant women and low birthweight children get the protein and nutrients that they need”.

Funding toward the government’s stunting eradication plan will be allocated during the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement.

We want to see adequate funding to evidence-based strategies that will have the greatest impact and return on investment, such as the following:

Introducing multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) for pregnant women

A single tablet replacing iron and folate with a more effective combination of 15 vitamins and minerals, shown to reduce low birthweight, preterm birth and early infant mortality. MMS is a practical, scalable intervention delivered through existing health platforms.

Implementing a Maternal Support Grant

Starting in the second trimester of pregnancy and transitioning seamlessly to the Child Support Grant after birth. Income support during pregnancy improves maternal nutrition, increases clinic attendance and reduces the risk of low birthweight, one of the strongest predictors for stunting.

Providing targeted nutrition support

To pregnant women at risk of having a low birthweight baby and new mothers of low birthweight babies. This must be complemented by more intensive healthcare support through community health workers and regular clinic monitoring.

South Africa has the highest rate of foetal alcohol syndrome in the world and, over the past decade, about 800 000 babies were born underweight and brain-damaged due to alcohol exposure in the womb. To address this problem and the harms caused by heavy drinking, we urge the government to introduce minimum unit pricing. We also want to see followthrough on the president’s call on provinces to tighten regulations around liquor trading hours and limiting the density of liquor outlets.

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