Social Development heads to court over closure of Alex creche following toddler's injury
The Department of Social Development in Gauteng will head to court to lodge an urgent application to close a creche in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, where a toddler was badly burnt earlier this year.
This comes after Stepping Stone day-care centre refused to close its doors in the wake of the incident.
It's understood the boy sustained the injuries when a teacher at the creche allegedly used boiling water to clean him after he soiled himself.
Following site visits by the department, the day care was found to be operating illegally.
The day-care was given 10 days to shut down but failed to meet Monday's deadline.
"Through letter of enforcement, the Day Care Centre was instructed by the Department to stop operating and was provided with ten days to effect closure. Within the ten days, the Department of Social Development held consultations with parents that have children attending Stepping Stone Day Care Centre to inform them about the decision the Department took to close the ECD centre and also for placement of children in alternative ECD centres in the area," said spokesperson Feziwe Ndwayana.
"The Department maintains that the closure of the Stepping Stone Day Care Centre is critical as it contravenes the Children's Act provision in that it is operating illegally, the staff of the ECD are not vetted against the Child Protection Register which puts the lives of children at risk, and the inadequate child staff ratio, putting the children at risk due to inadequate staff to look after children."
The teacher at the creche faces charges of attempted murder.
Ndwayana added that the department is appealing to parents to vet their day-care of choice.
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