Owners and workers of Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, which mostly comprise crèches, protested outside the Department of Education (DoE) offices in Port Shepstone on August 13, demanding answers as to why they have not received subsidies for five months.

Some 342 ECDs are affected in the Ugu District.

Chairperson of the National Senior Certificate ECD in Ugu, Samkelo Ndwalane, said promises were made that the funds would be allocated, but to date nothing has been received.

He added that the department said it was waiting for a master list, which revealed that payment had been made; however, it was untrue.

“We have children who need to be fed, but we can’t buy food and have borrowed money so we can buy the basics, so that they can eat. Workers’ policies have lapsed because they have not been paid. We are here to find out what exactly the problem is.”

According to Ndwalane, to keep doors open, ward committees intervene; sometimes requesting help from parents.

He added that he has heard that other districts have been paid, but Ugu has not received a cent.

Crèche owner Nokuthula Ngcwensa said it is difficult because when workers are not paid, they report the institution to ward committees.

“Ward councillors and parents question us, asking when we are paying workers. We don’t have those answers as DoE says they will pay, but it’s now been five months. Also, the porridge we cook in the morning is the first meal for many of the children at our crèches.”

Ngcwensa said they can’t send the children away because parents entrust them to the crèches.

“They trust us with their children while they are at work, knowing that they are safe, but now if we cannot provide meals for them, we will eventually be forced to send them home. Some mothers cannot leave them at home because of the bad things happening in our communities.”

Meanwhile, DoE’s Acting District Director, Nkosinathi Madadi, said that some of the creches have been paid, and others will receive funds next week.

Madadi added that it was untrue that all 342 creches have not been paid.

“Some have received money, and some have not. The group that came to the department has not been paid. So far, some R700 000 has been allocated. With these funds, the creches are advised to use 60% in the current financial year and 40% in the new financial year because it takes a long time for funds to be processed.”

Also, Madadi said that discussions about the mismanagement of funds have been held with the owners, and they have also attended a financial management workshop.

He concluded that a meeting has been scheduled with the ECDs to discuss other matters, including the funds issue.

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