Gauteng MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, has outlined key takeaways following her visit to the Boitumelong Early Learning Centre in Alexandra on January 14, as part of the provincial government’s back–to–school campaign.

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While praising the centre as a beacon of excellence, Ramokgopa said her visit was about identifying the challenges that early childhood development (ECD) centres are grappling with and what the government can do to support them across the province.

Speaking after engagements with the centre’s principal, Lunga Ncube, Ramokgopa highlighted several issues that require urgent attention. She said there was a need for the provincial government to work more closely with municipalities and local councillors to ensure basic services such as water and waste management are delivered consistently.

“One of the challenges here is simply around waste management. The hostel is occupied by people who need waste management services, and in the absence of that, they end up depositing their waste right here, next door [at Boitumelong]. That is not an environment for young people to be growing up in, especially not children,” she said.

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Ramokgopa added that utilities such as Pikitup and the City of Johannesburg must double down on waste collection and involve communities in stopping illegal dumping.
“When it comes to water availability, there are major water challenges in the area as a whole. It is not limited to this school. It has to be a priority of the City of Joburg, and fortunately, at the provincial level, we do have those forums, intergovernmental forums to engage with the local MMCs and other people from the local municipality. So, that is my intention and the takeout from today.”

She noted that while the campaign was designed to assess school readiness at the start of the academic year, it also exposed systemic challenges that the provincial government couldn’t ignore.

Ncube welcomed the MEC’s visit, saying it showed recognition of the centre’s potential. “Somebody is seeing our potential and that we are laying a better foundation for these children who are underprivileged,” she said.

Ward 107 councillor Floyd Ngwenya, himself a product of the centre, described Boitumelong as a model for Alexandra, citing its safety, hygiene, and nurturing environment. He urged that the campaign’s benefits extend to all ECDs in the township.

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