{Objectives To assess space-time trends in malnutrition and associated risk factors among children (\<5 years) in South Africa.Design Multiround national panel survey using multistage random sampling.Setting National, community based.Participants Community-based sample of children and adults. Sample size: 3254 children in wave 1 (2008) to 4710 children in wave 5 (2017).Primary outcomes Stunting, wasting/thinness and obesity among children (\<5). Classification was based on anthropometric (height and weight) z-scores using WHO growth standards.Results Between 2008 and 2017, a larger decline nationally in stunting among children (\<5) was observed from 11.0\% to 7.6\% (p=0.007), compared with thinness/wasting (5.2\% to 3.8\%