The DA in the Western Cape is gravely dismayed that national government is preparing for the reopening of gambling venues, but is silent on a date for Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs).
Gillion Bosman MPP says: “Today, national Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, tweeted that ECDs will reopen with a date ‘to be confirmed’. Her department’s 14-page document says very little of meaning for parents who are already expected to go back to the office, but who don’t have the option of sending their children to ECDs for care. Whilst national government is gradually opening the economy again, this delay for ECDs is effectively leaving thousands of families out in the cold.”
In certain cases, desperate parents are sending their children to ECDs operating illegally. As with all underground markets, they can easily become both dangerous and excessively costly due to the absence of any government regulations.
Bosman MPP comments: “The continual closure of ECDs leaves our children more vulnerable than ever. They are hungry and without nutrition that so many ECDs provide. Further, we face not only a health pandemic, but also a war of violence against women and children. Leaving our children without ECD care whilst parents are at work is tantamount to gross neglect.”
It cannot be that national government has put more thought into the reopening of casinos, cinemas and theatres with imminent regulations whilst the details for ECDs remain vague, to say the least. Rightly so, personal care services have opened once more following gazetted regulations. But why is there no hurry to do the same for ECDs? National Social Development and cabinet must surely check its priorities.
Bosman MPP adds: “We call on Minister Lindiwe Zulu and her department to stop dragging its feet and announce final plans with a clear date for the safe reopening of ECDs. No longer can our children suffer, especially at a time such as this.”
The DA in the Western Cape will continue to lobby for the best interests of our children, ensuring that their material, physical, and emotional wellbeing is safeguarded.
