Question 631
Mrs S P Kopane (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development:
(1) Whether there are any criteria to which crèches must ascribe in order to obtain the grant of R12.00 per child; if not, why not; if so, what criteria;
(2) whether there are any crèches in the Free State who are currently receiving the said grant; if so, (a) where in the Free State are these crèches based and (b) what is the total amount given to each of these crèches per annum;
(3) whether there are any monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure that theses grants are used to the benefit of the children; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) (a) how many crèches are registered in the Free State, according to municipality and (b) what are the names of each of these crèches?
Minister reply:
(1) Yes, there are criteria to which crèches must ascribe in order to obtain a grant (known as a subsidy)
These are:
* The crèche should be registered as a not-for-profit organisation (or proof that an application for registration was made).
* The crèche should be registered in terms of section 30 of the Child Care Act, 1983, as amended.
* The crèche should be a community based organisation with a constitution and a management committee.
* A means test in respect of each child’s parents at the crèche should have been applied by the management of the crèche.
* The crèche should have applied for subsidy to the Free State Department of Social Development in the prescribed manner.
(2) Yes
(a) The crèches receiving subsidies are in all 5 districts based and is as follows:
* Xhariep: 41,
* Motheo: 197,
* Lejweleputswa: 114,
* Thabo Mofutsanyane: 256
* Fezile Dabi: 88
Total crèches: 696
(b) R114,637,464 and this is distributed between crèches in the five districts as per attached annexure.
(3) Yes, monitoring mechanisms are in place to ensure that these grants are used to the benefit of the children. In terms of the Free State funding policy monitoring mechanisms must be in place to ensure correct utilisation of funds. One of the requirements is the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with each service provider which requires the following:
* Submission of monthly income and expenditure statements to the provincial department
* Provincial officials to do site visits to evaluate services and to assist where necessary
* Submission of six monthly progress reports to the provincial department.
(4) (a) According to district’s monthly statistics as at the end of July 2009 there are 1,304 crèches registered in the Free State, and
(b) The provincial database with names of Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, which is currently being updated, is attached in the as an annexure.
Issued by: Department of Social Development
21 September 2009
