Langa Early Childhood Development (ECD) Forum members, angry parents and community members have shut down a crèche which was operating at Winnie Mandela Flats in Langa.
The Western Cape Education Department has confirmed to Vukani the closure of the crèche.
The irate members of the forum went to the flat on Friday June 14 and removed the children there but when they returned on another day they still found it operating with a few children. On the first visit the members said they found 38 children squeezed into a room. On the second visit they found about 14 children.
The Langa ECD Forum claims that the crèche is run by a Zimbabwean national whose papers have expired.
The forum’s chairperson Thozama Tukulu said the department should investigate and if the woman was found to be illegal she must be sent back home.
Ms Tukulu said they spoke with the woman operating the creche and noticed a lot of missing information.
“There are norms and standards to operate an ECD. We attend classes and we do practicals so as to be able to run crèches. We are being assessed by the government. You cannot just willy nilly open and run a crèche. To make things worse, she kept 38 children in a small room. That alone tells you she has no clue of what she is doing. The ECD does not meet the criteria,” she said.
She said there is still a need for awareness because parents just send their children to any school.
Kholeka Sigaqa, deputy chairperson of the forum, said they received information about the illegal crèche and decided to do a follow-up. She said the space in the flat was only suitable for five children.
“When we got the information about it, we did our own research. After collecting all the information we then went to see it. All we heard was true. We closed it because it didn’t meet the criteria needed and the kids were not safe. The place is not of a good standard, and there is no place for kids to play,” said Sigaqa.
Millicent Merton, spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department, said her department is investigating the crèche.
She also said municipalities are responsible for registering institutions like crèchess that cater for early childhood development.
Ms Merton explained that the process starts with an application to the municipal office, which assesses zoning, land use, building, fire and safety compliance, compliance with environmental health regulations and food preparation.
“Once the necessary clearance certificates have been obtained, a social service organisation will do a site visit, and a report will be submitted for registration approval. If approval is granted, a registration certificate is issued. The organisation can then qualify for a subsidy,” she said.
Vukani was not able to speak to the owner of the crèche.
