The Department of Basic Education's (DBE) pilot nutrition programme for early childhood development (ECD) centres has been delayed repeatedly, with the tender closing date extended eight times since April. Civil society groups and ECD practitioners in the Eastern Cape say the postponements risk leaving the province's most vulnerable young children without the meals the pilot was intended to provide.
Delay affects centres that do not receive subsidies
The pilot was designed to reach 26,620 children at 1,035 entry‑level, bronze‑registered ECD centres — settings that currently do not receive the DBE's ECD subsidy of R24 per child per day. These centres typically serve the poorest communities, making them primary beneficiaries of the nutrition intervention.
According to civil society campaigners, the original tender closing date was 9 April 2026. The latest published closing date is 23 October 2026, after eight separate extensions over seven months.
“With less than six months to go [of the 2026/27 financial year], we are deeply concerned about another year going by with money not being spent,” said Tshepo Mantjé, ECD coordinator with the Equality Collective and Real Reform for ECD.
Money allocated but not spent
Funding for the nutrition pilot has increased substantially on paper. The allocation began at R197‑million in the 2024/25 budget, rose to R336‑million for 2025/26 and was set at R772‑million in the 2026/27 budget for use over the medium‑term expenditure framework.
Despite the rising allocations, the Department of Basic Education recorded an under‑expenditure of R743‑million for the 2025/26 financial year. At a departmental presentation cited in reporting, the ECD nutrition pilot accounted for almost 40% of that under‑expenditure.
| Financial year | Budget allocation (pilot) |
|---|---|
| 2024/25 | R197‑million |
| 2025/26 | R336‑million |
| 2026/27 | R772‑million |
Concerns from the sector
Civil society voices argue the delays compound longstanding strains in the ECD sector. Bronze‑registered centres do not yet qualify for the departmental subsidy and often operate with limited infrastructure, few staff and high reliance on community fundraising or unpaid caretakers. For those children, a centralised pilot was expected to provide a vital safety net.
- Scale: 1,035 centres and 26,620 children targeted in the Eastern Cape.
- Funding: R197m → R336m → R772m across three budget years.
- Risk: Repeated tender postponements and under‑expenditure threaten implementation.
Tshepo Mantjé of the Equality Collective said the postponements were particularly troubling because the pilot was explicitly aimed at centres where children are most in need. He warned that failing to spend the allocation before the end of the financial year could mean those funds are surrendered to the National Revenue Fund rather than used to feed children.
Accountability and next steps
The DBE has not published a detailed implementation timeline to explain the repeated extensions or to confirm when successful service providers will begin delivering meals. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube flagged the department's under‑expenditure during the presentation of the 2025/26 annual results, but further clarity is required on procurement timelines and the operational plan for the pilot.
For ECD centres and parents, practical questions remain: when meals will start, which provider will supply them, how kitchens and staff will be supported, and how continuity will be ensured should the pilot end or be expanded. Civil society groups are urging the DBE to publish a clear schedule and to consider interim measures while procurement is finalised.
The delayed pilot programme highlights a broader challenge in translating budget allocations into services on the ground. With millions set aside and some money already recorded as unspent, the immediate test for the DBE is to move from planning to delivery before the window for meaningful impact closes for this financial year.
Local ECD practitioners say they will continue to press the department for answers and for swift implementation so that children who currently miss out on the R24 subsidy can receive the nutrition support intended for them.
