The motion was passed during the last council meeting of the year, in the Germiston Council Chambers, on Thursday last week.
Alderman Tania Campbell, DA spokesperson for health and social development in Ekurhuleni, said the move supports the DA’s effort to better understand Early Development Centres and curb child abuse in the metro.
She said with little or no controls and standards in unregistered crèches, there is potential for negligence and malpractice which can leave children vulnerable to child abuse.
“Crèches are not only critical to early cognitive development, but are also considered safe places by parents.
“However, with no official record of the amount of registered and unregistered crèches in Ekurhuleni and little or no control at unregistered crèches, children are left vulnerable to abuse.
“This was illustrated by a case of abuse reported at a crèche in Tembisa on November 6,” Campbell said.
She explained that a child (3) came home with burn marks on her buttocks which, the crèche explained, was the result of them having washed her with Jeyes Fluid after the child soiled herself. The child’s mother, however, said she thinks the child was burnt with what looks like a hotplate stove.
“Such incidents prove there is a need for greater scrutiny over crèches and I will work to hold the Department of Health and Social Development accountable to ensure the audit happens,” Campbell said.
“As a result of their unregistered status, it is possible that such crèches lack the resources and skills required for adequate early child care.”
The other problem with unregistered facilities, she added, is that the metro is unable to understand or meet the specific needs and challenges of these crèches.
“Quantified and reliable statistics on crèches in Ekurhuleni will allow for better resource management and greater oversight, and perpetrators of child abuse can be held accountable.”
As part of the motion, the DA requested the MMC for health and social development, Dora Mlambo, to respond to their previous requests that an urgent audit be done into crèches in Ekurhuleni.
* 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children started on November 25 and runs until December 10.
