Welcome remarks by Dr Tshepo Motsepe at the Spousal Luncheon, 46th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, Dube House, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

Programme Director,
Our honoured guests, the First Ladies of SADC,
Representatives of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government,
Chief Executive Officer of the Early Care Foundation, Ms. Ipeleng Mohlala,
Representatives of civil society organisations,
Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Afternoon.

Allow me to begin by extending a warm welcome to you all to South Africa, and to the beautiful province of KwaZulu-Natal, as we gather on the margins of the 46th SADC Summit.

I extend a special and heartfelt welcome to the First Ladies.

Your presence here today reflects the strength of our regional solidarity and our shared commitment to improving the lives of women and children across Southern Africa.

As leaders and advocates, we understand that the future of our region depends on the opportunities we create for our youngest citizens today. Early Childhood Development (ECD) is not simply a social investment; it is one of the most powerful foundations for human development, economic growth, and social cohesion.

In South Africa, we have made important progress in expanding access to early learning opportunities. However, we remain acutely aware of the challenges that still confront us.

Today, approximately 3.5 million young children in our country are not accessing early learning programmes. Behind this number are children whose potential remains untapped and families who require greater support to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Encouragingly, there is strong political will in South Africa to address these challenges.

Early Childhood Development has been recognised as a national priority in our National Development Plan 2030, which acknowledges that investing in young children is critical to breaking cycles of poverty, reducing inequality, and building a more prosperous and inclusive society.

This recognition provides a powerful foundation for collaborative action and demonstrates our country's commitment to ensuring that every child receives the best possible start in life.

As we engage today, let us be guided by our shared vision for Africa's children and by the conviction that quality early childhood development is not a privilege, but a right. By working together, and by building on the commitments outlined in South Africa's National Development Plan 2030 and similar regional aspirations, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and realise their full potential.

I would like to acknowledge the remarkable leadership and dedication of South Africa's Department of Basic Education, which continues to drive the transformation and expansion of the early childhood development sector. Through its commitment to improving quality, registration, funding, and access, the Department is helping to create pathways for more children to benefit from quality early learning experiences.

I also wish to recognize the invaluable contribution of civil society organisations, many of whom work tirelessly in communities every day to support children, families, practitioners, and early learning programmes. Their innovation, commitment, and deep community connections have been instrumental in advancing the ECD agenda.

We are equally grateful to local government structures that play a critical role in creating enabling environments for ECD services, as well as to private sector partners whose investments and collaborations continue to strengthen and expand opportunities for young children.

This collective effort demonstrates what is possible when we unite around a common purpose: ensuring that every child, regardless of where they are born or the circumstances of their family, has access to quality care, protection, nutrition, and early learning.

I will now hand over to Ms. Ipeleng Mohlala from the Early Care Foundation, a South African non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of Early Childhood Development (ECD) services for young children, particularly in underserved communities.

Through training, mentoring, and capacity-building programmes, the Foundation supports ECD principals and practitioners to provide safe, nurturing, and stimulating learning environments.

For over 35 years, Early Care Foundation has worked to strengthen early learning opportunities, empowering children to reach their full potential and laying a strong foundation for lifelong success.

Our nation's founding father, President Nelson Mandela, whose birthday we celebrated last month, reminded us that "there can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."

These words ring as true today as when he said them. They are an inspiration, but above all they are a call to action.

It is my hope that our discussions will strengthen partnerships across our region, encourage the sharing of knowledge and best practices, and inspire greater action to advance the wellbeing of young children throughout the SADC region.

Once again, thank you for joining us and for your continued dedication to building a brighter future for Africa's children.

Together, let us reaffirm our commitment to giving every child the strongest possible start in life.

I thank you.