‘A dream with a plan’: Minister Gwarube leads Northern Cape education outreach
Minister Siviwe Gwarube during her community outreach visit to the Northern Cape.
Image: Minister Siviwe Gwarube / X
THE MINISTER of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, received a warm welcome in Kimberley on Thursday, July 24, as she embarked on a day-long community outreach programme aimed at strengthening the foundations of learning and advancing quality education across the Northern Cape.
Joined by the Northern Cape MEC for Education, Abraham Vosloo, the minister’s visit spotlighted the province’s academic achievements, innovative early childhood development efforts, and the power of partnerships in delivering on the promise of basic education.
The day began at Thabane High School in Galeshewe – one of the province’s top-performing quintile 2 schools – where Gwarube delivered a motivational address to the Matric Class of 2025, encouraging them to aim high.
“You may not come from the best of circumstances,” she told the learners, “but the one thing that can change your path is a dream with a plan, because a dream without a plan is just a fantasy.”
The school, which was once considered underperforming, achieved a 94.59% matric pass rate in 2024 and is now pushing for a 100% pass rate this year. MEC Vosloo congratulated the learners and urged them to remain focused, while Gwarube toured the school’s nutrition and ICT facilities, commending the dedication of staff and learners alike.
The day began at Thabane High School, one of the top-performing schools in Galeshewe.
Image: Northern Cape Department of Education
From Galeshewe, the minister travelled to Platfontein, where she officially opened the !Xankwesa Early Childhood Development Centre – a state-of-the-art facility established in partnership with the Palms for Life organisation and the provincial department.
The centre will serve more than 400 children from the !Xun and Khwe communities, offering mother-tongue instruction to support literacy and comprehension from an early age.
“This is indeed a prime example of just how we can make an impact in the lives of our children when government and corporate partners work together,” said Gwarube.
She emphasised the critical importance of quality ECD in laying the groundwork for long-term educational success, social inclusion, and economic participation.
The official opening of the !Xankwesa Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre marked a powerful moment of community-driven transformation in Platfontein.
Image: Northern Cape Department of Education
Back in Kimberley, the outreach concluded with the vibrant Bana Pele Mass Registration Clinic held at Kimberley Academy, in collaboration with Sesame Workshop South Africa, which is celebrating 25 years of Takalani Sesame.
ECD practitioners and children were joined by Takalani Sesame’s Zuzu for a joyful learning session, where the children confidently sang, “I’m smart, I’m strong and I am kind.”
“Registering your ECD is the first step towards ensuring that we can provide quality learning and development opportunities; a safe and nurturing environment and good nutrition for all children receiving early childhood education,” said Gwarube.
She reminded practitioners that registration is free, and encouraged them to report any instances of people attempting to charge for the process.
ECD practitioners came out in their numbers for the Bana Pele Mass Registration clinic.
Image: Minister Siviwe Gwarube / X
ECD practitioners came out in their numbers for the Bana Pele Mass Registration clinic.
Image: Minister Siviwe Gwarube / X
The minister also held a stakeholder engagement session with the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign (QLTC) Provincial Steering Committee, as part of her commitment to collaboration with provincial structures in implementing the department’s five strategic priorities: early learning, foundational literacy and numeracy, curriculum relevance, safe and supportive schools, and professionalising the teaching workforce.
Minister Gwarube was accompanied throughout the outreach by MEC Vosloo, with the day’s programme reflecting a strong spirit of collaboration between national and provincial education structures. Reflecting on the Platfontein ECD centre, she said it demonstrated what can be achieved when communities take ownership and drive change: “When young people from our communities take initiative and identify the needs around them, real and lasting change becomes possible.”
“When young people from our communities take initiative and identify the needs around them, real and lasting change becomes possible,” she said.
The visit forms part of the national Bana Pele (Putting Children First) campaign, which will move next to the Eastern Cape as the department continues its mission to ensure that no child in South Africa is left behind.