Participants pose for a photograph during the spousal programme held on the margins of the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit in Durban, South Africa, on Aug. 17, 2026. (Photo: Presidency of South Africa)

NNA News - South Africa’s first lady, Dr Tshepo Motsepe, has called on Southern African leaders and their spouses to make early childhood development a stronger regional priority, warning that millions of young children in South Africa still lack access to services. Dr Motsepe made the call on Monday at a spousal luncheon on the margins of the 46th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at Dube House in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

In her opening address, the spouse of the SADC chair said that approximately 3.5 million young children in South Africa are not enrolled in early learning programmes. She described the gap as a challenge for children, families and the future of the country. “Today, approximately 3.5 million young children in our country are not accessing early learning programmes,” she highlighted. “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.”

Motsepe acknowledged that South Africa has made progress in expanding access to early learning, while admitting that major challenges remain.“Early childhood development is not simply a social investment; it is one of the most powerful foundations for human development, economic growth and social cohesion,” she said.  Official South African data shows that an estimated 1.3 million children aged three to five are not attending any early learning programmes. Access for children aged zero to two has been harder to quantify due to various factors.

Motsepe stressed the need for regional cooperation to address the problem and pointed to partnerships with civil society as key.“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,” she told fellow first ladies. “As leaders and advocates, we understand that the future of our region depends on the opportunities we create for our youngest citizens today.”

A panel discussion on early childhood development is held during a spousal luncheon on the margins of the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit in Durban, South Africa, on Aug. 17, 2026. (Photo: Presidency of South Africa)

She also highlighted South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030 as an important foundation for action, with the plan identifying investment in young children as critical to tackling poverty and inequality and to building a more inclusive society. She advocated for treating quality early childhood development as a fundamental right. Civil society partners were also represented at the luncheon. The chief executive officer of the Early Care Foundation, Ipeleng Mohlala, represented the South African non-profit organisation that supports early childhood development in underserved communities.

For more than 35 years, the Foundation has provided training, mentoring and capacity-building support to ECD principals and practitioners. Mohlala told the Southern African first ladies that "the organisation remained committed to working with government and regional partners to ensure every child has access to quality care and learning." Motsepe further added that she hoped the meeting would strengthen partnerships among SADC countries. By promoting the sharing of knowledge and best practice and encouraging greater action on early childhood development.

Participants at a spousal luncheon on early childhood development interact during the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit in Durban, South Africa, on Aug. 17, 2026. (Photo: Presidency of South Africa)

In her closing remarks, the South African First Lady reminded her fellow presidential spouses of the words of former South African President Nelson Mandela. “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.”

South Africa is chairing the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit in Durban this week.