​Plans are well ahead to ensure the smooth transfer of Early Childhood Development (ECD) function shift from the Gauteng Department of Social Development to the Department of Education next year.
In 2019, during the State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that ECD function will be migrated to the Department of Basic Education.

During a webinar on ECD hosted by the City of Tshwane. The Gauteng Social Development, Restorative Services and Services to Children, Director Keba Ntwampe, said that the proclamation has already been signed by both Ministers of the two departments as well as by the President and the Gauteng Premier.

Ntwampe added that, “The ownership of these ECD programs which are majority owned by non-governmental organizations, communities and private institutions will not be affected by the function shift, but the Department of Basic Education will become responsible for the support, subsidize and regulations of the programs according to the specifications in Chapter 5 and 6 of the Children’s Act”.

This was supported by her counterpart from the Gauteng Department of Education, Phumelele Tloubatla that the funding of R17 per child per meal will remain the same for pending further discussions.

The South African Congress of ECD's, Sifiso Nkomo called on ECD’s practitioners to calm down because government has assured them that discussions will continue at both the Provincial and National level.

City of Tshwane Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Social Development Thabisile Vilakazi said
that the City is already working with the departments and South African ECD Sector since last year to ensure a smooth hand-over.

Vilakazi said, “This function shift is important because it will also align the school curriculum and the ECD which will ensure that the future of children is in good hands”.​