64 social workers from the Department of Social Development have moved to the provincial Department of Education to assist with the programme. Social Development spokesperson, Lindi Mnguni, in a statement says the move follows an announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2019, where he announced that the ECD programme would be moved to the education department.

READ MORE: Joint Press Statement: Early Childhood Development (ECD) Function Shift

In a joint statement by the two departments, the MEC for Education, Tate Makgoe, says since the President announced the migration of ECD, massive consultations were done with stakeholders to ensure that social workers would not lose their jobs.

"Since the President announced the migration ECDs, we embarked on a massive consultation with all stake holders to assure them that officials are not going to lose their jobs," Makgoe adds.

In 2021, Ramaphosa signed the proclamation of the transfer of administration, powers and functions of the early childhood development sector to the education portfolio.

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