The Covid-19 pandemic has deeply damaged early childhood services and programmes in South Africa. A survey by Ilifa Labantwana conducted in August 2020 found that:

• 42,5% of ECD jobs were lost during lockdown
• 93% of ECD programmes that managed to reopen are unable to cover their operating costs.

The Department of Social Development has now launched the an Employment Stimulus Relief Fund for ECD Services.  ECD services may apply for once-off funds to subsidise the costs of up to four employees.  The cutoff date for applicants is 19 February 2021.