The Libode-based Nyandeni Local Municipality recently handed over three newly built early childhood development (ECD) centres, situated in three wards which fall under the local authority, which the municipality invested R2.9 million towards its construction.
The three ECD centres are in Moyeni (Ward 8), Nkonjeni (Ward 27) and Mhlongwana (Ward 19).
Through the ECD centres, the municipality aims to nurture children for their physical and mental development, to prepare them for their journey with the right attitude and habits, focusing on the child’s total development and the use of the child’s first language as the medium of communication.
The three ECD centres were built during the 2021/2022 financial year, with plans to build four more during the current financial year.
The latest handover brings to seven the total number of ECD centres that were constructed during the previous financial year and subsequently handed over to communities by the local municipality.
Express previously reported on the handover of four newly built ECD centres in Bhucula (Ward 20), Mbhombeleni (Ward 4), Corana (Ward 12) and Lujizweni (Ward 32) of the local municipality.
“The early childhood development centre roll-out programme forms part of implementing Nyandeni Local Municipality’s Vision 2030 and is a direct response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for prioritization of early childhood development.
“Early childhood development is also a vital investment in children’s future as it sharpens their learning, reading and writing capacity whilst their numeracy, literacy and other early life skills become enriched at these ECD facilities,” municipal spokesperson, Ncebakazi Kolwane-Simanga, previously told Express.
Nyandeni Local Municipality community services and public safety portfolio head, Councillor Patiswa Matinise, added that the municipality builds these ECD centres in areas where there is one already operating but lacks the necessary infrastructure.
“What we do, as the local municipality, is to build a permanent structure where someone was already operating a registered and professionally run ECD centre, using their house or renting a house from someone and there is proven demand for the service within that community,” Matinise said.
Each of the three newly built ECD centres consists of a classroom, office, sick bay, kitchen and a storeroom, as well as ablution facilities.
