Protest over subsidies

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector embarked on a three-day national protest over "virtually non-existent roll out of the employment stimulus relief fund" on Wednesday 12 May.

For the duration of these three days, all ECD centres in Graaff-Reinet were closed and about 60 staff members participated in the national protest.

The Department of Social Development received R496-million to assist ECD centres in financial distress but, according to the Centre for Early Childhood Development, 80 000 staff have not received their payments. The deadline for payments was 31 March.

According to ECD staff, payments from the Department of Social Development are always delayed, and as a result thereof, staff have to work for months without any stipends. ECD staff deliver an essential service to the community without adequate payment or benefits.

According to the Department of Social Development, the delay in payment of the employment stimulus relief fund was due to incorrectly captured identity numbers or banking details on the application forms submitted by ECD centres.

ECD staff feel that this explanation does not hold water since the Department of Social Development have all the necessary details on record and previously deposited money for stipends for the same staff members into the same bank accounts.

Staff members of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector have not received their subsidies which were supposed to be paid by 31 March.