In 2014, the Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, held an Imbizo in Eshowe, KZN Province where she made a promise that the department would build an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre for the community.

Minister Dlamini will attend a sod turning ceremony in Eshowe this Sunday, February 7, to mark the first step towards the construction of the new ECD centre for children in the area. It is estimated that more than eighty children from Eshowe will benefit for the new ECD centre.  The centre will further offer employment opportunities for local women and skills training on early childhood development.

Minister Dlamini announced at an ECD Symposium in East London last week that Government has allocated an ECD Conditional Grant amounting to R812m for the 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years to expand the ECD subsidy to poor children in registered ECD programmes.  The subsidy amount will also be increased from R15.00 to R16.00 per child for 264 days across all provinces.

Government is working towards making ECD services a public good because of their role in laying a foundation for life-long development for children between the ages of 0 and 4 years.  These centres also provide nutritional food for children’s physical development and further offer peace of mind to mothers by providing a safe place for children while they are at work.

Cabinet has approved a National ECD Policy through which the roll out of integrated ECD services will take place.  The policy provides a framework for Government’s accountability to provide a comprehensive package of quality ECD services that would be universally available in sufficient quantities and proximity so that children enjoy an equal opportunity and access to these services.

After the sod turning ceremony, Minister Dlamini will host an Imbizo with the Eshowe community to assess progress made since her last visit.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover both the ECD Centre sod turnover ceremony and Imbizo planned as follows:

SOD turning progaramme

Date: Sunday, 07 February 2016
Time: 11h00
Venue: Myakanya, Eshowe in Nkandla Ward 2 – KZN Province

Imbizo progarmme

Date: Sunday, 07 February 2016
Time: 12h30
Venue: Myakanya High School Sports Ground, Nkandla Ward 2, KZN Province

Media can RSVP by contacting Mr Jaconia Kobue - 073 026 1111 / jaconiak@dsd.gov.za or Justice Ditshego - 079 4977426 / justiced@dsd.gov.za

Media enquiries may be directed to:
Ms Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za