Gauteng gets tough on unregistered child minders
The department will continue to inspect all centres that work with children
PARENTS are urged to check with the Gauteng Department of Social Development if the early child development centre (ECD) their children attend, is registered.
The department warns anyone who is operating illegally, that in terms of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, that they will face jail time if anything should happened to children in their care.
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The department learned with shock about an the accident of an eight-month-old baby who suffered serious burns when a kettle filled with boiling water fell on her.
“Worryingly, it appears as though incidents of child neglect at ECDs in our province are on the rise. First it was baby Owami Ndlovu who drowned in a disused swimming pool while neglected by his minders in Kensington and then, another child, Bohlale Mokoena of Sharpeville, also died at a créche under suspicious circumstances once again,” the department said in a statement.
Invariably, all the centres are said to be either unregistered or in the process of registration as is the case of Incredible Minds Nursery School where Naledi attended. “At the heart of the problems it appears as though our systems are either too slow in processing applications as well as weak in enforcing compliance.
“This particular centre was in the process of registration. Its application as well as required documents were submitted to Gauteng Department of Social Development in 2016. This is unacceptable.
“We have begun investigations to establish why there is such a lengthy delay in the application’s process. As part of this investigation, we also look at ways to strengthening our monitoring, evaluation and compliance enforcement.
“We call upon all parents to check with us if the centre they have sent their children to is registered by calling 011 355 7600 or 0860 428 8364 Gauteng Public Hotline.
“We will continue to inspect all centres that work with children, and should we find that there are those who continue to ignore the provision of the ECD national norms and standards, these centres will be shut down.”
