President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a special task team to tackle child stunting—affecting 27% of South African children under five—building on his February 2026 State of the Nation Address commitment to end it by 2030. Coordinated by the Presidency with multiple departments, the team targets high-impact interventions amid calls for unified leadership.
Following his State of the Nation Address pledge, President Cyril Ramaphosa has established a task team to address child stunting through coordinated action. The multi-departmental group, including health, social development, police, justice, home affairs, provinces, and local government, operates within the Presidency's Project Management Office.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya outlined priorities: expanding nutritious food access, enhancing ante- and post-natal care, promoting healthy choices, and curbing alcohol abuse—echoing SONA emphases. Funding will be allocated after identifying top interventions, informed by Operation Vulindlela civil society engagements.
David Harrison of the DG Murray Trust urged strong presidential leadership to overcome departmental fragmentation, drawing parallels to early HIV responses. He advocated prenatal micronutrient supplementation (in trials), extending the Child Support Grant to pregnancy, and scaling the Western Cape's Khulisa Care pilot, which provides R525 monthly vouchers for protein-rich foods and home visits. Western Cape Health Minister Mireille Wenger indicated potential expansion if proven effective.
