Nelson Mandela Children's Fund report: SA spends R660-680bn on child poverty, yet lacks progress
The report further highlights the severe economic impact of child poverty, with a staggering annual loss of R1.3 trillion – or 18% of South Africa’s GDP – linked to the unmet potential of impoverished children.
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Clarence Ford interviews Karl Muller, Chief Programmes Officer at the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (NMCF).
Listen below.
On 2 November, South Africa marked National Children’s Day, and to coincide with this observance, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, in partnership with Deloitte, launched the 2024 Child Poverty Report: The Economic Impact of Child Poverty in South Africa.
The report not only quantifies the true cost of child poverty but also uncovers the staggering scale of the crisis, revealing that the reality is far worse than previously understood.
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Research conducted by Deloitte shows that the state spends an eye-watering R660-680 billion annually to address child poverty; yet, there are few signs of significant progress.
The report further highlights the severe economic impact of child poverty, with a staggering annual loss of R1.3 trillion – or 18% of South Africa’s GDP – linked to the unmet potential of impoverished children.
"The report is quite clear that around the national budget, children are not prioritised in the way they should be."
- Karl Muller, Chief Programmes Officer – Nelson Mandela Children's Fund
Muller emphasises that the Foundation believes children should be the central focus of the national budget, with a strong need for investments in the long-term sustainability of both the country and future generations.
He further stresses the importance of identifying and addressing the systemic barriers that prevent grant funding from reaching children in need.
The Foundation is urging all stakeholders – businesses, government, and civil society – to actively engage, from facilitating meaningful discussions and solutions to ensuring that policies are implemented without systemic obstacles.
"I don't want to put all the emphasis on government. Government is not going to be able to solve this issue by themselves."
- Karl Muller, Chief Programmes Officer – Nelson Mandela Children's Fund
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.