Press Release - July 18, 2025

Gauteng Education MEC praises SmartStart practitioner’s work to widen access to early learning for children in Lawley

Johannesburg — During yesterday’s sitting of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Gauteng MEC for Education and Sports, Matome Chiloane, publicly praised SmartStart early learning practitioner Nomusa Mngomezulu for her outstanding work in widening access to early childhood development (ECD) in one of the province’s most underserved communities.

Nomusa’s Future Leaders ECD Centre, located in Kokotela, Lawley, south of Johannesburg, was established in 2020 following her recruitment as a SmartStart practitioner. Initially operating from a single classroom shack with just three children, Nomusa has since expanded her centre to five classrooms that currently serve 66 children. She has also appointed 10 additional staff to assist her in the running of the centre, including a cook and after-care practitioners.

“Her centre now stands as a beacon of hope and proof that even in the margins of Kokotela, hope can flourish and quality learning can begin from birth. What was unimaginable is now a reality,” said Chiloane.

This recognition took place as Chiloane outlined the province’s Strategic Framework for Educational Excellence, which highlights ECD as a key priority. Announcing an allocation of R734 million towards early childhood initiatives, Chiloane said the framework prioritises expanding access to ECD programmes for children aged zero to four and other mechanisms aimed at school readiness for children through developmentally appropriate curricula and qualified practitioners.

After attending the sitting of the provincial legislature, Nomusa was invited to lunch with the MEC and had the opportunity to share more about her work. Reflecting on the day, Nomusa said:

“It’s amazing to see our childcare work being appreciated in this way. I appreciate all the support I have received, including the training to become a practitioner.”

Nomusa has big plans for Future Leaders, including expanding her offering up to Grade 9 so she can also offer computing fundamentals to improve children’s technical skills.

“What I have noticed is that anything you do with love, determination and dedication, is bound to succeed,” she added.

SmartStart CEO, Grace Matlhape said:

“What Nomusa has achieved in five years is a testament to her dedication and talents. It also shows how even in informal settings, with support from networks like SmartStart, children can receive the nurture and stimulation that helps them to thrive. There are thousands of women like Nomusa, who are pioneering new ways to use their individual capability and local resources to build a different future for young children in their community. SmartStart will continue to partner with these remarkable women to take quality early learning to every young child in South Africa.”

For further information and interviews contact: thabo@smartstart.org.za

Notes to editors:

1. SmartStart is South Africa’s leading network of partners and practitioners working collaboratively to provide quality early learning opportunities to children in every type of community. SmartStart seeks to harness the power and potential of affordable home and community-based early learning programmes, which can reach more children, more quickly. Our vision is to give one million children access to quality early learning every year by 2030.

Press Release - March 27, 2025

ECD Breakthrough: New South African study shows the way for taking quality early learning to every young child

A groundbreaking study released today by SmartStart, reveals compelling evidence that early learning programmes run in homes and community venues can significantly boost children’s outcomes, even at scale.

The research looked at the impact of SmartStart’s national network of 13,000 early learning programmes (ELPs), which are supported by 13 implementing partners and four branches in every type of community across the country, and whether they can keep improving outcomes for children as the network rapidly expands.

A team of independent researchers, including Professor Sarah Chapman from University of Cape Town as the principal investigator, used South Africa’s Early Learning Outcomes Measure (ELOM) to track the progress of 551 children in SmartStart ELPs over an eight-month period. They found that the proportion of children “on track” increased by a remarkable 20 points from 45% to 65%, while the proportion of those "falling far behind" nearly halved. This meant a dramatic reduction in the achievement gap between children from low- and high-income households, falling from 25 points to just 6 points. Importantly, the SmartStart cohort outperformed the national Thrive by Five Index benchmark.

Grace Matlhape, Chief Executive Officer of SmartStart, said:

"This study tells two stories. One is about the infinite abundance in every child in South Africa, and our responsibility as a society to ensure that their potential is fully released. The second is about the abundant potential of the hundreds of thousands of under-employed women living in low-income communities – and their ability to transform the futures of children when given the right skills and resources.

“The crucial thing about the SmartStart model is that it honours the inherent strengths of our communities. Our programmes run in homes and community venues, which means they offer an immediate and affordable solution to close the access and quality gaps for excluded children. This underscores the need for government to establish enabling policy and funding frameworks that recognise and support these franchisees where they are.

“Today we salute the extraordinary ordinary women across our network who are using simple but transformative practices every day, to create a better future for young children. These women are powerful agents of change, beacons of hope for future generations.

“We also salute the dedication of our implementing partners, and the unwavering support of communities who stand united for their children. Their collective efforts, show the power of a collaborative implementation model to transcend socio-economic barriers and, ultimately, to bridge the equity gap in early learning.”

Celebrating its tenth year of impact, the SmartStart network currently has over 13,000 ELPs serving over 125,000 children, every week. Its network model is deeply rooted in social capital and community empowerment, underpinned by the principle of meeting communities where they are and leveraging their existing assets.

Kulula Manona, Chief Director for Foundations for Learning in the Department of Basic Education, remarked, "This study shines a light on the incredible potential of our children when provided with the right developmental and learning opportunities. It also underscores the critical role of community-based early learning programmes, and the dedicated franchisees who deliver them, in bridging the early learning access gap."

Professor Sarah Chapman from University of Cape Town, Principal Investigator, said:

“The implications of this study go beyond South Africa, demonstrating that effectiveness isn't contingent on costly infrastructure and equipment, but on empowering franchisees with the right tools, skills and support. Simple, everyday practices, including nurturing care, lots of talk, and child-centered play, can transform outcomes for young children.”