Early childhood development (ECD) practitioners have challenged political parties contesting the 2026 City of Johannesburg local government elections to commit to reforms that will improve conditions for centres and protect children’s access to quality early learning.
The call was made during the Real Reform for ECD: City of Johannesburg Local Government Election Manifesto 2026 imbizo held at Ennerdale Civic Centre, Extension 9, on Thursday, 15 October.
Under the banner “Children cannot wait. The time for real reform is now”, the event brought together ECD practitioners, legal experts and political representatives to discuss challenges involving water, zoning, registration, building regulations and municipal fees.
The panel discussion, titled “Making Local Government Work for ECD”, was facilitated by Tshepo Mantje. The panellists were Cerrol Louw of SmartStart, David Dickinson of Lawyers for Human Rights, Yomelelani Umncedi of DGMT and Florence Zondi, an ECD practitioner.
Dickinson highlighted the difficulties faced by practitioners operating in informal settlements and on land without title deeds, raising concerns about zoning and compliance with municipal by-laws.
EFF mayoral candidate Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng’s presentation highlighted the impact of inadequate infrastructure on ECD centres in informal settlements.
“What we want to do as the EFF, immediately upon assuming office, is to actually recognise and formalise informal settlements so that there are tar roads, there’s electricity, water and fibre connection for those communities,” Mofokeng said.
Speaking to Globe Post, Dr Tlaleng said these services directly affect children’s care, food, health and safety. She proposed an online portal to simplify applications and allow practitioners to track documents while awaiting zoning decisions. She further raised concerns about malnutrition and proposed insourcing dietitians.
The manifesto outlines five priorities: reliable water, dedicated environmental health services, accessible zoning processes, reduced municipal fees and one-stop ECD service points across Johannesburg’s seven regions.
Political representatives present included the EFF, ActionSA, Rise Mzansi, the SACP, MK Party, ATM and BOSA, alongside independent candidates.
The event called on candidates to commit to practical reforms that support ECD centres and put children first.
