With children making up as much as 34% of the country’s population, child-education advocacy group the Centre for Early Childhood Development (CECD) facilitated a political debate that highlighted the needs of young children in the country.
According to the 2022 census, there are an estimated 21 million children in South Africa. Unable to vote themselves, CECD felt raising these burning topics was necessary ahead of the election.
Represented parties
On Tuesday 7 May, CECD created a platform for representatives of the African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA), Freedom Front Plus (FF/VF+), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Build One South Africa (BOSA), Rise Mzansi, ActionSA, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) and African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) to share their parties’ promises for young children.
A representative of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) was meant to participate, but had to make a last-minute cancellation.
Hundreds of early-childhood development (ECD) workers from across the province, including Crossroads, Delft, Khayelitsha and Worcester, were joined by residents, non-profit organisations (NPOs), representatives of political parties outside and on the panel and community activists at the College of Cape Town’s Crawford Campus from 15:00 to 17:30.
Jessica Blom, ECD Programme Manager at CECD, said while children made up such a large portion of the population they were often left out of the election debate.
“For us, children are a political issue that political leaders need to really think about and (this provided) an opportunity for people to engage directly with those political party representatives, asking their questions about young children, because they are important,” says Blom. “It was fruitful to hear what these political parties have to say, specifically about young children and ECD, and provides us an opportunity to hold them accountable later on.”
While there were many issues addressed around young children, such as nutrition and access to early education, what had not been discussed was the role of parents as much, she said.
“What we know in South Africa is that most young children are not even in ECD centres,” Blom pointed out, “and the focus of the debate has been a lot on ECD centres and not about how we cater for those even more vulnerable children not accessing these centres.”
Broadcast journalist Lester Kiewit, who facilitated the discussion, said there were 52 political parties on the national ballot for the upcoming election and it was impossible to invite them all. Instead, parties who already have representation in the National Assembly and a few parties who are currently trending on the election polls were invited.
Party manifesto promises to children
The debating panel kicked off with party representatives highlighting their focus on children’s needs as outlined in their respective manifestos. Here are only key take aways from opening remarks:
- BOSA’s Musi Maimane started from a policy point of view in that maternal grants be revised to start during pregnancy. He proposed free higher education, increasing funding to ECD centres and more focus on child nutrition.
- EFF’s Zenande Dyantyi said his party insists on protecting and restoring the dignity and rights of children who face poverty and malnutrition. “This is why we’re saying, ‘Expropriate land without compensation.’ This is why, under the EFF government, children will go to school for free and teachers will be trained.”
- ActionSA’s Angela Sobey highlighted current government funding allocation of R17 to each child in ECD centres per day, compared to prison’s funding of R400 per prisoner per day. “When it comes to ECD, it’s important not just to look at centres but also to look at children that fall outside these centres.”
- ANC’s Cameron Dugmore championed the Bela Bill in recognising that, despite there being ECD, high-quality ECD is not a reality. “This is why, with the Bela Bill, Grade R will be made compulsory.”
- MK’s Fumanekile Booi recognised the spirit of ubuntu being the driving force behind children’s upbringing.
- FF Plus’ Heloïse Denner refuted the idea that a bunch of promises be made to children, only to be broken. “We need concrete plans and a holistic approach that looks at education, social development, healthcare and crime prevention and everything that influences the lives of young children.”
- Dr Louise van Rhyn promised that RISE will increase the daily R17 for each child per day to R50 “at the first possible opportunity . . . that is not just a promise, but a commitment”.
- DA’s Gillion Bosman believes young people should be viewed holistically. “ECD centres cannot be a social development issue alone. It is very much embedded in education, because quality education is not about what happens at ECD centres, it also comprises what people get in support of parents.”
- ACDP’s Marie Sukers said “political parties have a moral obligation not only to deal with policies, but really to address the issues that are felt on the ground.” She recognised not only do ECD centres show tremendous opportunities, but face tremendous risks.
After delivering their opening remarks, questions were posed to parties, which included prevention of violence against children, enrolment and education beyond ECD, encouraging parental engagement and bonding, poverty and nutrition, combating fatherless homes, unregistered ECDs, teacher qualifications and undocumented children in the country.
During the audience question and answer session, Pastor Dean Ramjoomia, a community activist from Mitchells Plain, delivered an impassioned comment on gang violence and child murders on the Cape Flats.
“None of (these political parties) had the dignity to acknowledge hundreds of our children that have been brutalised and killed as a consequence of gang violence on the Cape Flats. You talk about prioritising children, while you do not even acknowledge the systematic trauma our children, parents, mothers and fathers have been subjected to over the past 30 years.”
Warren Povey, head of strategic partnerships at Breadline Africa, a partner organisation working with CECD, questioned the red-tape around building infrastructure for ECDs. “There were too many promises, but there were some points from some on the panel that made sense, but in general (I am not satisfied with the promises made),” he said to People’s Post. Funding is key. We have amazing organisations out there, CECD among them building infrastructure and doing amazing work, yet we need funding.”
ECD representatives were unable to address their concerns, prompting CECD Director Prof Eric Atmore to call a second engagement in two weeks time to give them the opportunity to speak.
