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

As part of combating this vicious cycle of poverty and the negative impact it holds on our children today ,the MEC for Social Development Mr. Alvin Botes handed over 10 32” LCD Television Sets to Early Childhood Development Centres in Upington The Televisions can be used a learning aid/medium to stimulate our children and assist them in achieving their maximum potential as learners. The ECD Centres who received televisions are from De Aar , Loxton , Carvanon , Britstown , Colesberg and Phillipstown.

MEC Botes emphasised on the importance of Early Childhood Development and the positive role that they play in our society. He stated that much emphasis is placed around matriculants and somehow we are forgetting about the fundamental role early childhood development plays in laying the foundation for a successful schooling career.

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.

As part of increasing the progress of stimulating the children’s cognitive development at ECD Centres the Department will be supplied Television Sets to ECD. centres in our disadvantaged areas. The main purpose of them receiving the televisions is so that they can have access to educational TV Programmes such as Takalani Seseme .

Furthermore the ECD Practitioners will also be able to utilize the televisions as a medium of teaching more educative and life orientation lessons.

The handing over of the television sets was followed by the handing over of the certificates to the MKVA Veterans of the Liberation who successfully completed an accredited Security Officer course which was funded by BOSASA. The funding of the training is part of the Social Corporate Responsibility of BOSASA, who is the company responsible for the management of the Child Secure Care Centre in De Aar. At the handover ceremony BOSASA committed to provide catering training to prospective caterers in De Aar.

The Mayor of Renosterberg Mr. Zet Kwenane also addressed the community members of De Aar said “ The Youth of De Aar must be proud of their family and be unapologetic from where they come , you must persevere to graduate yourselves out of poverty by means of educating yourselves , and once you reach that milestone you must not forget where you come from and assist your family to escape from the cycle of poverty as well” The mayor further went on to wish all the matriculants of Pixley Ka Seme good luck with the forthcoming matric examinations

For more enquiries please contact Conrad Fortune @ 079 873 0679

Conrad Fortune

Manager : Communications
Department of Social Development
0798730679