IN CONVERSATION WITH Tshepo Mantje

Tshepo Mantjé is a children’s rights activist, movement lawyer, and leading voice in Early Childhood Development (ECD) advocacy in South Africa. Serving as the Right to ECD Senior Coordinator at Equality Collective and National Coordinator of Real Reform for Early Childhood Development (RR4ECD), he works at the intersection of grassroots organising, legal mobilisation, and public policy reform. With an honours degree in developmental psychology and an LLB, Tshepo has led national campaigns that mobilised thousands, influenced parliamentary processes on the Children’s Amendment Bill, and advanced the People’s Manifesto for ECD during the 2024 national elections.