[ Home ] [ Speeches & statements ]

8 October 2007

The Minister of Social Development, Zola Skweyiya will officially launch the department's national Early Childhood Development (ECD) services registration campaign at the Temba stadium in Hammanskraal on Thursday, 11 October.

Skweyiya will be accompanied by the MEC for Social Development in Gauteng, Kgaogelo Lekgoro and senior political representatives of the Tshwane Metropolitan Council.

The Department of Social Development is responsible for the registration of places of care or ECD sites where more than six children are cared for away from their parents or caregivers. Places of care include crèches, playgroups, after-school centres or a combination of the three.

A national audit of ECD conducted in 2000 identified a total of 23 482 sites, 60% of which were located in urban areas. More than 9 000 of the sites are registered with the Department of Social Development or Education. Of those children in ECD provision, many are in centres that do not have trained personnel or the necessary materials to ensure the appropriate development of children in their care.

The audit found that 23% of the existing caregivers have no training and most of the remaining 85% need further training.

"There are hundreds of ECD centres around the country which remain un-registered. In that way, we are unable to assist the service providers with regards to training, to ensure adherence to norms and standards, assist with subsidies should they qualify to receive them, and generally to support the Centre personnel to ensure optimal care for the children," said departmental Director-General, Vusi Madonsela.

Currently 5 431 centres receive financial support in subsidy form from the department reaching 314 912 children aged five years and younger.

"The ECD is effective child abuse detection and prevention programme, as early signs of child abuse and neglect can be easily detected if the child attends an ECD programme. The ECD programme has also been identified as a poverty alleviation mechanism and a job creation instrument within the social cluster, forming part of government's Expanded Public Works Programme," Madonsela added.

Key government departments in the delivery of ECD services are the Social Development, Education and Health.

The media is invited to cover the event starting at 9h30.

Enquiries contact:
Lakela Kaunda
Cell: 082 782 2575

Media RSVPs:

Zingaphi Jakuja
Cell: 074 197 8383

Jonas Mashigo
Tel: 012 312 7793

Issued by: Department of Social Development
8 October 2007