Equality Collective urges government to implement maternal support grant

Activist organisation, the Equality Collective, has called for the approval and implementation of the proposed Maternal Support Grant.

The monthly grant is targeted at vulnerable pregnant women to improve maternal and child health, starting from the second trimester.

As a designed extension of the Child Support Grant, it aims to reduce malnutrition, poverty, and healthcare costs by providing nine months of support, bridging a critical gap for women in informal work.

Senior ECD Coordinator at Equality Collective, Tshepo Mantjé, explained that the grant would ensure expecting mothers receive the necessary support during this critical period.

“We recognise pregnancy as a very important stage in a human’s life, and particularly in early childhood development (up to six years old) when a child is still experiencing rapid brain development.”

He added that due to South Africa’s pre-existing entry systems with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), identifying those in need should not be a challenge.

Interactions with the public health system via antenatal clinic visits and pregnancy testing will also assist with identification.

Mantjé emphasised that a grant would bridge the gap between the support mothers need during pregnancy and after the child’s birth, which mirrors the existing Child Support Grant.

“Child nutrition starts in the womb, and if the mother is not supported at this stage, this is a big gap, and it needs to be supported,” he said.

To listen to Mantje in conversation with 702 and CapeTalk’s Africa Melane, click the audio player below: