The residents of Westdene and Sophiatown were happy to hear that City of Johannesburg MMC for Health and Social Development Dr Mpho Phalatse fulfilled her commitment to return to the area to inspect, evaluate and possibly close down early childhood development (ECD) centres.
Phalatse, together with the departments of environmental health, land use management and building control raided early childhood development centres such as daycare centres and crèches in the Sophiatown and Westdene areas on 26 June.
The City is here to ensure that you know how to run a Early Childhood Development Centre and do it the right way. #EarlyChildhoodBlitz ^LM pic.twitter.com/ZXYsyeRVAp
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) June 26, 2019
In the middle of June, the Phalatse visited Sophiatown Police Station to get an update on the matter involving an centre where two toddlers allegedly died due to consuming rat poison, as reported in the Northcliff Mellville Times article City concerned over death of children [Week ending 21 June]. The state of the daycare centre shocked her and she vowed to return to the area to ensure that these centres are compliant with the City’s regulations.
Of the five centres that were inspected, two of them received a notice to close down due to their lack of safety for the children there. The others received notices for issues that needs to be looked at and rectified. The visit wasn’t only to inspect and close down early childhood development centers but to also educate those that may not be fully compliant with the City’s standards and assist them to become compliant.
Westdene-Sophiatown Residents Association was part of the raids which showed Phalatse and her team a few of the illegally-run and dangerous childcare centers in the community. Dauw Steyn, chairman of the association said they were pleased with the MMC’s visit and action. “We spoke with the MMC and indicated that these facilities play an important role in our community especially because of the lower bracket fees.”
The association hopes to see these type of operations being held on a constant basis, not only for early childhood development centers but also for communes and businesses in the area. They wanted to thank the MMC for committing herself to her promise. “We express our gratitude towards the MMC for not just closing down facilities but assisting to get them compliant and legal,” Steyn concluded.
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