ECD centres blow whistle on thieving officials

Two officials of the department of social development stole money through deliberately overpaying early childhood development centres (ECDs) that are funded by government reclaim the extra funds, only to pocket them.

The officials have now been suspended and further investigations are being conducted into the matter. This unlawful activity came to light after the department received complaints of funds being mismanaged from ECD centres in the province.

The department said these officials’ names cannot be revealed for now as the matter is sub judice.

“The MEC for social development has suspended two officials who have allegedly defrauded the department through manipulating the internal financial system. The alleged amount is yet to be confirmed as the initial investigation was based on a sample of transactions and will only be divulged after finalisation of the process,” said the department’s acting communications manager, Galaletsang Moncho.

Meanwhile, the Oreratile Creche in Phase six, Bloemfontein, is desperate for financial support from the department. This is one of many unregistered crèches and has been in existence for a year now. It accommodates 37 children aged between two and five years in a single shack.

It can only be eligible for funding when it has been registered. It lacks basic necessities such as toys, chairs, tables and beds. The only visible learning tools are posters on the interior walls.

Suzan Lebakeng is keen to make this crèche work because this is her way of providing a service to her community. She started the centre after working with children at a local crèche for many years. Since hers is not an easy task, she has already approached the social development department for help.

“We went to the department and we were told we need to register first. We were sent to social workers to start the process of registration. We hope we will be assisted because children in our community need a place to learn, to be protected and cared for.”

At the beginning of the current financial year, the MEC for social development, Sisi Ntombela, allocated R636 835 hyphen million to social welfare services for the protection and education of communities.

There are 148 219 children aged under five in the province. The department provides service to 17 000 orphans and vulnerable children through community based care offered by HIV and Aids programmes within the department. These children are also linked to drop-in centres where they receive afternoon meals and help with their school work.

The expressed intention of this department is to groom young people while they are still in their toddler stage. This is to intentionally shape them into responsible and patriotic citizens of this province and country.

To achieve this the department has made it possible for 95 000 children to access early childhood education in 920 crèches funded by the department. There are 43 960 children in these centres that the department are subsidising. This number has increased to about 105 000 children in the 2013/2014 financial year.

The department has trained about 1 310 practitioners and matrons in Grade R curriculum over the last three years. In 2012/2013 financial year, the department trained 360 practitioners and also improved their conditions of service by increasing their stipend from R700 to R1 200 per month.

Although the infrastructural state of crèche was ‘appalling’, the department corrected this building new crèches and spend over R8-million. Mobile trucks worth R677 00 with library on board were also bought to service rural areas. There are 330 children benefitting from these three trucks.