SEDIBENG.- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has called on both the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Lebogang Maile and the Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Morakane Mosupyoe to speed-up the completion of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM).
The party said that there have been unnecessary delays in completing the following ECD centres; Boipatong ECD, Bophelong ECD, Evaton ECD and Sharpeville ECD and that this greatly concerns the party, as children in these areas are denied opportunities to learn and develop at a younger age. “ECD centres, particularly in the townships, plays a crucial role to serve children from families who are socially, physically, and economically segregated. According to MEC Maile, there are four ECD centres that have been built in Emfuleni in the past 10 years, that are still incomplete and non-operational.”
The DA said that when responding to questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, MEC Maile said that the construction of the ECD’s began on 15 February 2014 with Bophelong ECD, followed by the Sharpeville ECD on 29 October 2015, and the Boipatong and Evaton ECDs on 18 January 2016. Evaton and Bophelong ECD projects are complete, with only land re-zoning and occupation certificates outstanding.
“This clearly indicates that these two projects do not comply with the standard building regulations, hence they have not yet been issued with occupational certificates. The Boipatong ECD is also incomplete with construction still outstanding in one building. The progress has been halted due to the finding of the irregular appointment of the contractor from the Auditor-General’s report. Due to the delays in completing the Sharpeville ECD project, certain sections of the building have deteriorated requiring further maintenance.”