The 2025 National Budget signaled a potential turning point for early childhood development (ECD) in South Africa, with an additional R10 billion allocated over a three-year period. This funding will expand access to ECD subsidies for 700,000 more children, increase the subsidy value to R24 per child per day, and support registration, infrastructure, and system improvements. While these measures move the country closer to universal ECD access by 2030, funding remains insufficient to cover the full cost of quality provision. The budget also raises the Child Support Grant and health spending, but concerns remain about VAT increases and unmet needs such as maternity support.
This brief analyses the 2025 National Budget from an ECD perspective and recommends further policy and fiscal actions to expand access.
