Today (Monday 6 July) the North Gauteng High Court ruled
that all private and NGO-run Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs) may
re-open immediately.
In a media statement released shortly after the court proceedings, the Provincial Minister of Social Development Sharna
Fernandez welcomed the court’s ruling.
With the country moving to alert level 3, many parents have
had to return to work, with no alternative care options for their children,
which has placed many children at risk. Furthermore, as ECDs remained closed
since 18 March, the livelihoods of ECD workers were at stake.
“The National Department of Social Development has already
drafted directions setting out safety measures for the reopening of ECDs. I
appeal to the Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu to gazette the safety
measures contained in these directives as a matter of urgency to help protect
children and staff,” says Provincial Minister Fernandez.
“In the interim I also urge all of those who
intend to re-open, to abide by the ECD operating protocols and guidelines which
can be found on our website. These measures include extensive safety training
for staff, daily screening and handwashing on arrival for both staff and
children, staggered arrival times per age group, and age appropriate education
of children about Covid-19. While I welcome the judgment, ECD operators must
prioritise the health and safety of the children in their care”.
