The Eastern Cape Government has urged the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders to join forces in addressing poverty in the province. This follows a Stats SA survey revealing that 89% of children in the province rely on school nutrition programmes, the second-highest rate nationally. Government spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie called the findings concerning but said they help guide policy. She affirmed the province’s commitment to targeted interventions aimed at building a more inclusive and resilient economy.