Pretoria: On Monday, 17 March 2025, the Department of Basic Education, in partnership with Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), will host the Bana Pele Early Childhood Development (ECD) Leadership Summit. The event, set to be officially opened by President Cyril Ramaphosa, aims to bring attention to the importance of early childhood education and development in the country.

According to South African Government News Agency, Monday will also see the Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, hand over a newly revamped state-of-the-art library to the community of Akasia, located in the City of Tshwane. This initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to improve access to educational resources and promote a culture of learning.

On Tuesday, 18 March, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, will inaugurate the 2nd African Forum on Urban Forests (AFUF) conference in Bryanston, Johannesburg. The conference, aligned with the International Day of Forests, will focus on urban greening and its significance for Africa’s future, fostering vital dialogue on the continent’s environmental strategies.

The week will conclude on Friday, 21 March, with Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivering a keynote address at the Derrick Ferreira Stadium in Kariega, situated within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in the Eastern Cape. The event will commemorate Human Rights Day, highlighting the nation’s commitment to upholding human rights and freedoms.