Young children in South Africa are more likely to live in poverty, suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition, and die before their fifth birthday than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. This is according to the South African Early Childhood Review of 2024 which shows that the situation of young children has worsened in many ways. Senior Researcher at the Children's Institute at the University of Cape Town, says Dr Katharine Hall the COVID-19 pandemic erased gains made for young children in South Africa, presenting a massive setback we have not fully recovered from.