Ward 69 councillor escalates matter involving the death of two children
WESTDENE – The premises of an illegal pre-school will be at the centre of a massive operation and investigation.
Ward councillor helps mothers get the deaths of the children the attention it deserves.
With very few options on what to do next or who to contact, the mothers of two toddlers were beginning to lose hope after their children died from allegedly coming into contact with poison at a pre-school in Westdene.
Ward 69 councillor Genevieve Sherman was sent a Facebook post where one of the mothers was seeking justice for her child and shared the information with the MMC for Health and Social Development Dr. Mpho Phalatse.
Within two days of her escalation of the matter, the MMC, accompanied by Sherman and the police, social development, social workers, the City of Johannesburg’s Child Desk and Environmental Health and Emergency Management Services descended on the premises where the pre-school was operating.
Sherman said, “We spoke to the owner of the home and he told us that his domestic worker was taking care of the children, but we know this is not true.” She went on to say that the mothers confirmed that they had paid the man money for the pre-schools services. Sherman added that they were able to confirm that the facility had been run illegally for the last eight years.
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“This is one of many illegal communes operating in the area. All these facilities must be shut down. They are looking after human beings and worse, children. Human life was lost and it is unacceptable.”
When asked what the next step will be, she said a large scale operation was on the cards. “We are hoping to have an Integrated Visible Service Delivery operation at the facility. This is an operation where every single department involved in dealing with illegal activity will be here to do a thorough investigation.”
This operation will include the police, Metro police, health and safety, social development and other related departments. Sherman stated that this action is necessary to deal with what happened.
Related article:
Two pre-school learners die due to rat poison at Westdene daycare facility
City of Johannesburg worried about the lack of awareness on illegal pre-schools
