Ensuring children’s safety

Ensuring children’s safety andile
Written by Albert Pule
“The purpose of registering the facility is to ensure that children are cared for and protected in a safe environment.”

If you are running an unregistered Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre, you are breaking the law which can have serious consequences. Tebogo Itumeleng, Chief Director: Social Welfare and Specialised Social Services at the Gauteng Department of Social Development, says ECD centres have to be registered by law. “The purpose of registering the facility is to ensure that children are cared for and protected in a safe environment. Parents will also know that their children are taken care of in recognised facility that meets the necessary ECD centre norms and standards as prescribed by the Children’s Act,” explains Itumeleng. 

Anyone who wants to run an ECD centre has to note the following requirements:

  • The person/facility must comply in terms of the ECD norms and standards as prescribed by the Children’s Act.
  • The facility must meet the requirements for registration.
  • The facility must also comply with municipal bylaws and other related legislation.

There is no closing date for registering an ECD facility and registration is free.

For more information, contact the nearest offices of the department in the different regions:

HEAD OFFICE
Ntheki/ Mantwa/ Phumudzo
Tel: 011 355 7846/ 355 7845/
355 7716
Cell: 082 336 3123/ 082 469 3123/ 076 480 3979

EKURHULENI
Fikiswa Sosola/ Thandekile
Shabalala/ Bongi Dhlamini/
Hlamarisa Mabasa/ Adel De Bruin
Tel: 011 820 0374/ 011 820 0371/011 748 7620/ 011 820 0379/
011 820 0396
Cell: 082 554 4053

JOHANNESBURG
Malebo More/ Zandile Monama/ Zandile Makgalemela/ Nkhensani Nephawe
Tel: 011 355 9364/ 011 355 9363/ 011 355 9368/ 011 355 9210
Cell: 079 894 2273/ 079 529 4589/ 082 469 0413/ 082 414 6909

WEST RAND
Iris Cindi/ Ikgopoleng Rankudu
Tel: 011 950 7768/ 950 7775
Cell: 082 331 0903/ 082 448 4801

TSHWANE
Poppie de Villiers/
Marinda Oosthuizen
Tel: 012 359 3474/ 012 359 3376
Cell: 079 328 4133/ 079 527 1748

SEDIBENG
Mmabatho Moabi/ Bombeleni Munzhedzi/ Zukiswa Mabutho/ Vuyisile Bolofo
Tel: 016 930 2092/ 016 342 9114/ 016 930 2051/ 016 930 2094

 

Education