Gauteng MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, visited the Boitumelong Early Learning Centre in Alexandra on January 14, as part of the Gauteng government’s back-to-school campaign.

The visit, allowed the centre’s principal Lunga Ncube to highlight persistent challenges in Alexandra’s ECD sector, including some that her centre is grappling with. These include illegal dumping and water shortages.

Some other issues that were raised include infrastructure challenges, and the need for the government’s support in upskilling teachers in some schools and centres whose highest qualification is a matric certificate.

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MEC Ramokgopa acknowledged these challenges. She further commended the centre’s longstanding efforts—dating back to its establishment in 1950—for delivering quality early childhood development (ECD) in a challenging environment marked by high crime rates and community hardships.

“You are already doing the thing that we want to see happening in all the different schools in Gauteng,” she said.

The MEC highlighted her department’s commitment to integrating agriculture into schools and ECD centres, not only to enhance learning but also to extend support to surrounding communities, ensuring that no child goes to school or to bed hungry.

Ramokgopa also drew attention to alarming statistics on childhood malnutrition, noting that some children suffer from stunting due to poor nutrition.

A 2025 Human Sciences Research Council report indicated that food insecurity affects 63.5% of households nationwide, and that 28.8% of children below the age of five suffer from stunting. This is especially apparent in communities that grapple with poverty, including Alexandra.

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“The issue of childhood hunger is one of the most tragic and terrible stories. We need to promote better nutrition and better cognitive development around that age,” Ramokgopa said.

She stressed that young children require specific nutrients that differ from adult diets, underscoring the importance of this role.

Ramokgopa expressed enthusiasm for deeper engagement with learning institutions such as Boitumelong, recognising their potential despite operating under difficult circumstances.

Councillor Floyd Ngwenya described Boitumelong as a centre that all others in Ward 107 and Alexandra should learn from. He emphasised its safety, hygiene, and nurturing environment. Furthermore, he said the campaign should not only benefit the centre but all ECDs in Alexandra.

“We are hoping that all the progress you have made… this is not the only centre that will benefit from the visit. We are hoping that all the centres in Alex will benefit because we need it.”

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