The centre was built at a cost of approximately R6 million. It covers 1 400 square metres and will be able to cater for an estimated 150 children.

The facility will be run by NPO, Wolwerivier Early Childhood Development who started the application and enrolment process this week. The principal hopes to start classes on 9 July 2019, to coincide with the new school term.

‘This has been a long time coming and we are very happy that the ECD is now ready to open its doors to learners. Foundation phase learning is such a crucial element in a child’s development, and I do hope that the Wolwerivier community will make full use of the facility,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.

The launch of the Wolwerivier ECD came in the same week that the Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department signed facility management agreements with ECD Centre operators for 27 City-owned ECD Centres.

The 10-year agreements were entered into after a competitive supply chain management process to run ECDs from the facilities. A full list is available here: https://bit.do/ECD-FMA

‘With these agreements, we have now regularised the usage of these properties, but have also given peace of mind to the successful operators, as the agreements will be in place until 2029. For the City, it is important to help bring stability and advancement in the early childhood development sector, because the research is clear – how a child starts the learning process, will have a far-reaching impact on the rest of their life.