The first nine years of children’s lives are fundamentally essential to their development as human beings. In fact, it is so vital that a country’s economic position, globally, and its success as a nation depends on its Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes.

Ideally, for early childhood development to make a difference there should be a joint effort between parents, the community and the government – a healthy, educated population makes for a healthy, sustainable economy. Children from disadvantaged environments often end up in a tragic cycle – a lack of stimulation or good nutrition leads to poor school performance, which ultimately means as adults they end up in unskilled jobs, earning bottom wage.

Early Childhood Development Centres is also an intervention in the social sector that address child poverty holistically.

The Department of Social Development wants to ensure that children between the ages of 0-5 years old are given the best start in life by being well cared for, protected , supported and provided with early learning development. Therefore as a Department, we are at the centre of building a caring society that meets the needs and aspirations of all its people. In fact, everything in the service of government is social development in action.

However this cannot be done alone , therefore we are encouraging parents to please enroll their children between the ages of 0-5 years old at Early Childhood Development Centres. By enrolling your children in these centres you can be assured that your children are in a safe environment and their cognitive development will grow rapidly.

This will also afford parents who are unemployed and concerned about their children’s safety to seek employment for themselves.
Parents can contact the contact the Department of Social Development if they have any enquiries with regards to registering their children at ECD centres and to find out if there are any centres within close proximity where you are living .

The following officials can be contacted in the different Districts for further information.

Francis Baard district : Ms. P.G. Saul : 053- 807 5912
Siyanda district : Mr. L. Solomon : 054- 337 9409/082 856 1769
Namakwa district : Ms. Martie Lotz : 027 7122 054/ 082 597 2082
Pixley Ka Seme district : Mr. L. Pula : 071 859 6880
John Taolo Gaetsewe district : Mr. T. Tlhaole : 082 331 3477/ 053 712 1549

Issued by

Conrad Fortune
Manager : Communications
Department of Social Development
0798730679
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