South Africa has increased the number of children receiving the early childhood development subsidy to more than 954,000, up from 748,000 two years ago, according to Daily Maverick. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced this progress at the Bana Pele Leadership Summit, which began on 19 October 2026. She noted that while the number of children in quality early learning programmes is at a historical high, a significant access gap remains for the country’s youngest learners.

Gwarube stated that approximately 1.2 million children aged three to five are currently enrolled in early learning programmes, leaving a gap of about one million children. She described this shortfall as a distance the government still needs to cover to meet its 2030 targets. The Bana Pele Shared Blueprint aims to reach an additional 1.2 million children by 2030 through expanded access, improved quality, and increased resource mobilisation from public and private partners.

The subsidy budget has grown from R3.43-billion in the 2024/25 financial year to R6.49-billion in the current year, with projections to reach R9.1-billion by 2028/29. Despite this growth, Daily Maverick reported that some provincial departments have faced challenges in paying subsidies on time. A KwaZulu-Natal High Court order in June 2026 compelled the provincial education department to release outstanding funds after complaints from early learning facilities.

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the summit, arguing that early childhood development is essential for preparing children to think critically in a rapidly changing technological landscape. He called on businesses to invest in early learning infrastructure and training, suggesting that such investments are critical for the country’s future prosperity. The summit also featured contributions from the Minister of Health and the Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance, highlighting a multi-sectoral approach to early learning.

Tshepo Mantjé, an early childhood development coordinator, observed that the presence of multiple government departments was promising. He noted that the local government association had signed on to support the blueprint. However, he expressed caution about the extent of practitioner participation, suggesting that the government needs to connect more directly with grassroots workers to ensure the initiative’s success.