5,900 early childhood development programmes in Gauteng remain unregistered — TimesLIVE
In South Africa’s Gauteng province, at least 5,900 early childhood development programmes remain unregistered because their operators cannot meet requirements for zoning, food safety, fire safety and basic infrastructure. This was reported by TimesLIVE, citing Gauteng’s Member of the Executive Council for Education, Lebohang Maile.
According to him, in April 2022, the provincial education department took over about 7,800 unregistered programmes from the Department of Social Development. Since then, the authorities have been running the mass Bana Pele registration campaign. After facilities were urged to apply, the department’s database contains approximately 5,900 unregistered programmes.
Three stages of registration
The procedure involves three stages. First, unregistered programmes must declare themselves by submitting an online application. Municipalities then verify their compliance with local regulations. After successfully completing this check, the Department of Basic Education assesses compliance with the Children’s Act.
Maile noted that many such facilities operate in informal settlements, where it is difficult to meet basic requirements. Some do not have reliable access to water or electricity, while others are located in structures that do not meet the requirements for an official early childhood development facility.
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Access to subsidies
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube explained that because of these problems, some facilities remain at the initial, bronze level of registration. To advance to the silver or gold level, they must undergo additional compliance checks.
According to Gwarube, registration is intended to give facilities access to a child subsidy of 24 rand per child per day. Emma Mathlola, owner of the Boys and Girls Youth Africa ECD Centre in Diepsloot, said her facility has operated since April 2016 but still receives no funding. The centre is maintained primarily through parental fees, which many families cannot pay regularly.
The centre’s monthly budget is between 13,000 and 16,000 rand and covers stipends for four educators, children’s meals, rent and utility costs. According to Mathlola, educators receive between 1,500 and 2,500 rand per month, which is less than the 3,500-rand stipend they should receive, she said. The facility is awaiting a decision on its application for a silver certificate, which will allow it to apply for funding.
