VEREENIGING – The event was held at the Riviera Hotel and Country club in Vereeniging, where several members of different ECDs graced the event to listen to the dialogue.

According to the organizers of the event, the dialogue follows the launch of the District Development Model by the President of the Republic of South Africa in August 2022 under the theme of “Leave No One Behind” in Sharpeville, Sedibeng Municipality.

The NDA participated in the event as a government agency by profiling municipalities in Emfuleni as its focus area for the Gauteng provincial office.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Gauteng Provincial NDA Manager Mapule Phora unpacked the idea behind the dialogue and outlined its importance.

“We are starting to implement the District Development Plan launched by the president in this region. We are talking around ECDs, and their role in improving education and nutrition for kids between 0 – 6 years,” she said.

Phora said they hoped to get better knowledge from people on the ground.

Different stakeholders attended the dialogue, including South African Congress for Early Childhood Development, Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development, and many others.

Sedibeng District Municipality Mayor Lerato who gave the keynote address during the dialogue said the ECDs are important in order to develop the country.

“We are ready as the municipality to assist the ECDs where needed. Let us have ECDs come forward and work as a team. The reason the government has partnered with the ECDs in Sedibeng is that there is no development in our region. Kids are the future and if we develop them right, then we are bound to have a better country,” she said.