UPDATE: North crèche shut down after 14 kids hurt in gas explosion
“The crèche did not have relevant documents for operation."
The Gauteng government has shut down a crèche said to be operating illegally after 14 children and two employees were badly injured during a gas cylinder explosion on Monday.
The incident happened at about 15:00, when neighbours said they heard what sounded like an explosion and thereafter saw children crying amid a cloud of smoke.
Outgoing Gauteng MEC for social development, Nandi Khoza, immediately closed down the facility in Soshanguve Block S.
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A mechanic in the neighbourhood, Donald Masango, said: “I was busy working when I heard an explosion. Thereafter children were crying in the crèche. At first I thought a wall had collapsed on them. I then jumped the fence to see what was happening.
“When we got there, we found a cloud of smoke and the room was smelling of gas. A teacher was busy hauling the children outside, pouring cold water on them. We then assisted in rescuing the remaining children and called the paramedics.”
Masango said he was shocked by the injuries suffered by the children.
“They were badly injured, their skin was peeling off. Others had burn wounds on their heads. I am still hurt even now because they are toddlers,” he said.
Masango said the crèche appeared to be in a poor condition.
“I do not think the environmental health inspectors would allow a crèche to operate in such poor conditions where there is no electricity.”
Dumisani Nkgapele said the incident had hit neighbours “very hard”.
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“I was deeply hurt about what happened to the children … they are innocent kids. We understand the crèche does not have electricity, but that should not be used as an excuse to compromise the safety of the children.”
Daisy Maluleke, a grandmother, said she was in shock after being informed about the tragedy.
“I was unable to sleep last night when I thought of the children badly injured in the hospital. We were informed by the neighbourhood children that there was a gas explosion at the crèche and that children were burnt and they were taken to hospital. They were not even transported by an ambulance to George Mukhari hospital, but by a random taxi,” she said.
Maluleke said she was not upset with the crèche operators as it was “just an unfortunate incident”.
“The crèche owners came to my house in the morning before going to the hospital for short prayer. I was satisfied with that; it made my spirit calm. That showed remorse so I am not holding anything against them.”
While other parents were crying over the pain their children were in, others were fortunate theirs had suffered no harm.
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“I fetched my grandchild earlier because we had to go somewhere. I live next to the crèche; I heard the sound of the gas explosion and thought it was a car … after the explosion I heard children crying at the crèche. I rushed to there to find that the children were badly burnt from a gas explosion,” said Elizabeth Mpyo.
Khoza has confirmed that the crèche was not compliant with the safety regulations and that it was operating illegally.
“The crèche did not have relevant documents for operation.
“From what we have observed, this is not a proper environment for a crèche. The community should have not allowed the crèche to operate in the first instance, it is not safe. It must stop today,” Khoza said.
“We are pleading with parents to verify if crèches are registered … if they are not sure. On the wall there must be a certificate to show that this a non-profit-organisation, a date of registration from the social development, another certificate from environmental health and for food handling. If there is none of these certificates, just know that it is illegal. Alternatively, go to the nearest social development office to check if the crèche is verified,” Khoza advised.
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The ward councillor in the area, Phumzile Hlatshwayo, advised residents to not compromise the safety of their children by taking them to places that were not safe because they were cheap.
“We understand that you are trying to make means of employment. But the correct procedures should be followed when opening a crèche. It is your responsibility as a parent to verify if the crèche is registered with (the department of) social development before enrolling a child there.”
Hlatshwayo said police were investigating and that the affected families would be supported until the children had recovered.
“We will continue to monitor the children and also provide the affected families with psychological help for this traumatic experience.”
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