Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu hands over Early Childhood Development Centres in Upington, 17 Jan

The children of Upington to benefit from Early Childhood Development

As the country’s 2020 academic year kicked off this week, hundreds of children in Upington will benefit from Early Childhood Development Centres (ECD) following a partnership between the Department of Social Development and the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). 

The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mrs Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, will handover over 10 ECD centres in Upington in the Northern Cape Province. 

Chapter 9 of the National Development Plan (Vision 2030) acknowledges the importance of education in dealing with poverty and inequality in South Africa. 

In fulfilling the goals of the NDP, South Africa is making serious investments in its future, with specific focus on improving ECD.

ECD was declared a public good thus prioritising its expansion to all children as part of Government’s first 1000 Days Campaign. 

Last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced during his State of the Nation address (SONA) that Early Childhood Development Centres will move from the Department of Social Development to the Department Basic education and the two Departments have been working together towards the realisation of the change in responsibilities. 

In 2020, the Department of Social Development will still continue with the registration, provision and the administration of the ECD subsidy and parents are encouraged to register their children for ECD. 

The ECD Centres to be handed over by the Deputy Minister are sponsored by the NLC as part of its Legacy Project, which to date has benefitted a total of 203 organisations. 

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the handover scheduled as follows:
Date: 17 January 2020
Time: 10h00
Venue: Oasis Skills Development Centre, 5 Brand Street, Webstergrounds, Upington 

Members of the media can RSVP:
Makhosazana Mavuso
Cell: 072 732 9381 
Email: makhosazanama@dsd.gov.za 

Media enquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067 
Email: LumkaO@dsd.gov.za 

Event Category

Share this page

Similar categories to explore