According to the Statistics South Africa (StatsSA), Eastern Cape Province is the second-highest food insecure province with at least 33% of the population regarded as food insecure, just a little below North West province at 35%. The South African Human Rights Commission made an inquiry and pronounced on malnutrition in Eastern Cape, citing unemployment and lack of resources as a major contributing factor.

Two hundred senior citizens from across the province converge at the East London International Convention Centre on 28 to 29 October 2024. The group attended the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development’s first annual two-day Older Persons Conference.

MEC Bukiwe Fanta took Social Development to one of the areas that have drawn media attention with a couple of gender related crime incidents reported in KwaMaqoma (formerly Fort Beaufort). This happened as government is building up to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign which begins on 25 November.