Millions spent, no children served: What is happening with Eden Park’s ECD centre?

An Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre on Abraham Street in Eden Park has never provided services to children despite millions of rands being spent on its construction.

According to MMC for community services Siyabonga Moloi, the centre reached practical completion on June 29, 2018, at a total cost of R23 875 520.56, including VAT for construction and consultant costs.

Moloi provided the information in a written response to questions from PR councillor Tiaan Kotze during an ordinary council meeting on July 30.

The facility received its certificate of occupancy on March 17, 2021.

However, according to Natalie Abrahams from the non-profit organisation I Matter, the building was never officially opened and no children have ever used the facility.

Abrahams said the project involved the city, provincial government, the social development department and the Department of Education.

She said the contractor and the city disputed unpaid money, after which the contractor abandoned the site.

According to Abrahams, the building was substantially complete but still needed some internal fixtures.
She estimated that the facility has effectively stood vacant for about six to seven years.

Previous attempt to get the centre occupied

Abrahams said a daycare operator, Nomasonto Nkomo, was previously approached about occupying the facility. However, Nkomo declined the offer.

Speaking to the Alberton Record, Nkomo said the city could not provide her with the service level agreement, fire extinguisher plan, and planning certificate.

The centre was subsequently left without an operator.

Moloi said the city had struggled to find suitable organisations to operate the facility because previous applicants did not meet the city’s criteria.

This has become a point of contention among local ECD operators, who say they need facilities from which to provide services to children in the community.

Gizel Bluemeyer, chairperson of ECD Forum in Eden Park, said some operators were running ECDs from back rooms while the purpose-built centre remained unused.“We applied for the tender but were unsuccessful. They cannot explain why. So many children need a place of care in Eden Park,” she said.

Councillor questions tender approach

Ward 57 councillor Dino Peterson also questioned the city’s approach to finding an operator through a tender process.

Peterson said many people running ECD centres are focused on providing services to children and may not understand how municipal tender processes work.

He questioned the fairness of expecting local ECD operators to navigate a tender process without sufficient knowledge or support.

City considers changing requirements

In response to Kotze’s questions, Moloi said the Department of Community Services had engaged supply chain management about lowering the requirements to accommodate organisations and individuals operating in the ECD sector.

Moloi said the ECDC forums had already held an information session during the 2024 tender process.

He said another information session would be held with interested applicants in partnership with the tender office once a new advertisement is published.

The city has also not yet confirmed whether it will use another tender or lease process.

Moloi said the Department of Development Planning and Real Estate had compiled an item proposing that identified properties, including the ECD centres, be donated to the Gauteng provincial government.
The Department circulated a request for comment to the relevant departments.

According to Moloi, the outcome of this process will determine whether the Department of Community Services continues with a bid or lease proposal.

Community says centre is deteriorating

Residents have also raised concerns about the facility’s condition.

Abrahams said there had been vandalism at the centre and that she recently learnt that the toilets needed repairs because of blocked drains.

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She questioned why a facility that had never operated as an ECD centre would already require such repairs.

She said security guards are being paid to protect the property and the grass is being maintained, while the building remained unused.

“The city is paying security and they’re mowing the lawn, but nobody is benefiting from the building,” she said.

Moloi confirmed that security guards were stationed at the facility.

However, questions about how much had been spent on repairs and security, whether the roof had been repaired and what other repairs remained outstanding were referred to the relevant departments.

Residents still waiting for answers

Abrahams said she had met with several city heads of department about the centre but had not received a concrete solution.

She said residents raised the issue again during the February 2026 public meeting in Eden Park and were told there would be further engagement.

According to Abrahams, municipal representatives later visited the facility, but the community was not given feedback on what was found or what would happen next.

She said the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) also invited her to a meeting after a video about the centre circulated on TikTok.

Abrahams said the department told her it would establish where the process stood and investigate possible solutions to get the building occupied.

However, she said the community had not received further feedback.

More recently, Abrahams said a community member told her that a contractor had been seen at the facility and reportedly said the building was going to be allocated to someone.

She contacted COGTA about the claim and was told they were not aware that the building had been allocated.

According to Abrahams, she was told the only information known was that repairs to the broken toilets were being undertaken.

A potential resource for the community

Abrahams believes the centre could make a significant difference in Eden Park, particularly for children with limited access to ECD services.

She said the facility could accommodate about 120 children and provide a safe learning environment where they could be prepared for school.

She also said discussions had taken place about making places available to children whose parents or guardians could not afford ECD fees.

Abrahams said local ECD operators could also be supported to become compliant rather than simply being expected to compete for a tender.

She said some compliance requirements relate to the buildings from which operators provide their services, rather than their ability to run an ECD centre.

The community has therefore called on the city to review existing ECD operators in Eden Park and consider ways to help suitable operators meet the requirements.

What happens next?

The future of the Abraham Street ECD centre remains uncertain.

The city is considering the proposed transfer of identified properties to the Gauteng provincial government, while the Department of Community Services considers whether it should continue with a tender or lease process.

Moloi said the city would hold another information session with interested applicants once it publishes a new advertisement.

In the meantime, the facility remains unused, with residents and ECD operators continuing to call for it to be put to its intended purpose.

For Abrahams, the concern is not simply an empty building, but a public facility that could provide early learning opportunities for children in Eden Park.

She said the centre could benefit about 120 children but currently benefits none.

The city was approached for a comment on September 29. At the time of publication, it had not received a response.

WATCH: Eden Park residents demand answers over abandoned ECD centre