Khulisa Care pilot reaches more than 2 000 mothers as Western Cape tests new approach to preventing child stunting
The Western Cape Government’s Khulisa Care pilot has reached an important milestone, with 2 027 mothers enrolled across testing sites in Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and the Breede Valley as of 7 August 2026.
The programme is testing whether access to nutritious food, combined with community-based healthcare support, can help prevent low birth weight and child stunting.
Stunting, which can permanently affect cognitive development, educational outcomes and long-term health, remains one of the country’s most urgent but often invisible crises. Khulisa Care supports mothers from pregnancy until their babies are six months old, a critical period during which good nutrition can have a lifelong effect on a child’s health and development.
Premier Alan Winde said the pilot reflected the Western Cape Government’s commitment to supporting residents throughout their lives, beginning even before birth.
“Our provincial strategy follows a life-course approach because the foundations for a healthier Western Cape are laid long before a child enters school or reaches adulthood. By supporting mothers during pregnancy and the first months of their babies’ lives, we are investing in healthier children, stronger families and a better future for our province,” said Premier Winde.
Khulisa Care is a proof-of-concept pilot led by the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, in partnership with the Department of the Premier and the DG Murray Trust, with support from the Grow Great Campaign and Shoprite.
It supports underweight pregnant women, women at risk of delivering a baby weighing less than 2.5 kilograms, and mothers whose babies were born with a low birth weight.
Participating mothers receive monthly Shoprite vouchers to purchase selected nutritious, protein-rich foods, including eggs, beans, fortified maize meal, peanut butter, milk, amasi, pilchards, tuna and soya products. This is combined with primary healthcare, growth monitoring, health education, mental health support and regular contact with trained community health workers.
Early information shows that around 90% of redeemers spent on average approximately R420 from the available R550 in a given month. Popular purchases include beans, long-life full-cream milk, tinned pilchards and tinned tuna.
Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness Mireille Wenger said the milestone was encouraging.
“Reaching more than 2 000 mothers is an important milestone and is helping us understand what meaningful support for mothers looks like. We are testing whether this type of intervention can help address low birth weight, which is a significant risk factor for child stunting,” said Minister Wenger.
Mothers remain in the programme until their babies are six months old, helping to bridge the period before many eligible families are able to access the Child Support Grant.
“Closing this gap matters. Supporting a mother with dignity during pregnancy and the first months of her baby’s life can help give that child a stronger start. Prevention is better than cure, and by acting early, we can give every child a better opportunity to grow, develop and thrive,” Minister Wenger said.
The pilot has enabled valuable learning about how such a system operates on the ground. And with a proactive learning approach, challenges are identified on an ongoing basis and, with partners, solutions are found together. The Department and its partners continue to work on improving the process and participating mothers’ experiences.
Enrolment is expected to close in September 2026, and mothers already enrolled will continue receiving support for the full duration of the programme. The Department and its partners will then assess the pilot’s feasibility and potential to be expanded.
“We will allow the evidence to guide us. If it shows that this is an effective and sustainable way to address maternal malnutrition, low birth weight and the risk of stunting, we will be in a stronger position to consider how the model could reach more mothers and babies,” Minister Wenger said.
Media Enquiries:
Robyn Thomson
Spokesperson for the Provincial Minister of Health and Wellness Email: robyn.thomson@westerncape.gov.za