President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Monday, 19 October 2026, deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Bana Pele Leadership Summit, to be held at The Galleria Arena and Conference Centre in Sandton, Gauteng.
The Bana Pele Leadership Summit is led by the Department of Basic Education and aims to mobilise and strengthen collaboration among government, the private sector, civil society, communities and philanthropic organisations to accelerate progress towards universal access to quality early learning by 2030.
In his 2026 State of the Nation Address, President Ramaphosa outlined key commitments to strengthen early childhood development and the basic education sector.
These include expanding the Bana Pele mass registration of ECD facilities, increasing subsidies for eligible ECD learners and making Grade R compulsory to strengthen the foundation for learning during the early years of a child’s life.
The two-day summit to be held under the theme “From Blueprint to Movement,” will bring together stakeholders from across society to advance the Bana Pele Shared Blueprint into a coordinated programme of action.
Discussions will focus on progress made, outstanding challenges and practical measures to accelerate implementation, strengthen partnerships and build a movement to create pathways to universal access to quality early learning by 2030, and putting children’s first.
The programme will feature panel discussions on Building the Network of Support Every Child Needs, Partnerships for Children and The Shared Narrative for Children.
Breakaway sessions will include discussions on Children’s First; Digital Infrastructure and Community HUBS Communities at the Helm.
The summit will conclude with the symbolic signing of the Bana Pele Charter, reaffirming stakeholders’ collective commitment to advancing the shared vision of ensuring that every child has access to quality early learning and the support.
President Ramaphosa will address the summit as follows:
Date: Monday, 19 October 2026
Time: 09h00
Venue: Galleria Arena and Conference Centre in Sandton, Gauteng
NOTE TO MEDIA: Members of the media wishing to attend the Summit are asked to contact Mr Kennedy Dube on 078 844 4229
Media enquiries:
Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa – media@presidency.gov.za
Mr Terrence Khala (Department of Basic Education) on 081 758 1546
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