BUSA ECD Association

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OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AND ALL SOUTH AFRICANS
Re: The Plight of Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres in Low Socioeconomic Communities

12 February 2026

Your Excellency President,
Fellow South Africans,

As the nation reflects during the State of the Nation Address (SONA), we write on behalf of Busa ECD Association and countless Early Childhood Development centres serving children in underprivileged communities.

ECD centres are the foundation of South Africa’s future. Yet in low socioeconomic areas, many centres operate under extremely difficult conditions — inadequate infrastructure, limited access to learning materials, insufficient nutrition support, delayed or inaccessible subsidies, and overwhelming compliance demands without corresponding support.

Practitioners, mostly women, carry the responsibility of nurturing and educating our youngest citizens while earning minimal income and receiving little recognition. Many centres struggle to meet registration requirements due to poverty-related barriers such as land ownership, building standards, and municipal approvals — not because of a lack of commitment to quality.

If we are serious about economic growth, social justice, and breaking cycles of poverty, investment in ECD must move beyond policy promises to practical, measurable support. We respectfully call for:

Increased and timely ECD subsidies that reflect the real cost of quality care

Infrastructure grants for centres in informal and rural communities

Simplified and supportive registration processes

Ongoing training and professional recognition for ECD practitioners

Stronger collaboration between government, NGOs, and community stakeholders

ECD is not childcare — it is nation-building. Every rand invested in early childhood yields long-term returns in education outcomes, employment, and social stability.

We urge the President and all South Africans to prioritise ECD not only in words, but in action. The children in our townships, villages, and informal settlements deserve safe spaces, nutritious meals, and quality early learning — just like every other child in this country.

The future of South Africa begins in our ECD centres.

Yours sincerely,
Busa ECD Association
Advocating for Quality Early Childhood Development in Underserved Communities
The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa
Department of Basic Education
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