On 12 February 2016 the KwaZulu-Natal (kzn) Department of Social Development in collaboration with the AIDS Foundation SA and IDT as implementing agencies gathered in Umkhanyakude district municipality to conduct a site handover. The visit aimed at introducing the construction company (Mandlafo Trading CC) appointed to build the new structures of Lindokuhle children’s crèche and Samkelumusa ECD structures.
Members of the community including parents and the local traditional council members came in numbers to witness the event and welcomed the project. With the project expected to commence on 23 February 2016 and likely to be completed by the end of August 2016, community members were overwhelmed that the children will now have a conducive environment and that the project will bring employment opportunities to the unemployed youth from the surrounding areas of Mansiya community.
Speaking on behalf of the community Ms Hlengiwe Nkosi, a local ward councillor said the current structure of Lindokuhle crèche is not suitable for children as it is leaking during rainfall and do not have the facilities and or resources that are child-friendly. The classes are too small and do not accommodate the number of children coming to the crèche, she said.
“As the Mansiya community we are pleased that finally our children will have an equipped, safe and secure structure that will house the 41 registered children and we are hoping that once the project is completed this will attract more parents to bring their children to the crèche,” Nkosi explained.
The overall project of the Early Childhood Development Structures is implemented in the other two district municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, this includes uGu district and Zululand district municipalities.
