The Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, embarked on a Community Outreach Visit to the Northern Cape Province on 24 July 2025, as part of her continued efforts to strengthen the foundations of learning and drive forward the five strategic sector priorities for basic education.

Minister Gwarube was accompanied by the Northern Cape MEC for Education, Mr Abraham Vosloo, during the visit. The programme commenced in Galeshewe, where the Minister visited Thabane High School, one of the top-performing schools in the province and delivered a motivational address to the Matric Class of 2025.

The Minister and the MEC also visited the newly completed !Xankwesa Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre, a state-of-the-art early learning facility serving the local community in Platfontein. The visit included an engagement session with education stakeholders, including the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign (QLTC) Provincial Steering Committee, to deepen collaboration on the Minister’s key priorities: early learning; foundational literacy and numeracy; curriculum relevance; safe and supportive schools; and the professionalisation of teaching. The official opening of the !Xankwesa ECD Centre marked a powerful moment of community-driven transformation in Platfontein. The principal of the Centre shared the inspiring origin story, how a bold vision to build a state-of-the-art facility was born from a single conversation, fuelled by determination and realised through strong partnerships with the Palms of Life and the DBE. MEC Vosloo commended the initiative, noting how it embodies the kind of grassroots leadership and collaboration that can reshape communities. Minister Gwarube concluded the visit by emphasising the lasting impact of investing in early childhood development: “We cannot overstate the importance of quality foundational learning. When young people from our communities take initiative and identify the needs around them, real and lasting change becomes possible”.

The Minister concluded her visit to the Bana Pele ECD Registration Clinic at Kimberley Academy as part of the Department’s national campaign to accelerate ECD centre registration and improve access to quality early learning for every child. Her activities included a walkabout to registration desks and to the Takalani Sesame play stalls.

The opening remarks were delivered by Ms Kulula Manona, Chief Director for Foundations for Learning, who provided background information about the Bana Pele Registration Drive. Since the ECD function shift in April 2022, the DBE and Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) have prioritised the professional development of ECD practitioners to improve the quality of foundational learning.