Members of the Gugulethu Early Childhood Development Forum (ECD) have thrown their full weight behind the embattled Uluntu Pre-school in NY108 following eviction from the premises.
The crèche was forced to shut down on Thursday 20 January, after years of service to the community, to make way for a shopping centre.
Facility owner Nombulelo Mzimkulu was served with an eviction letter by the sheriff accompanied by police officers and a private security company. Staff and children were ordered to vacate the premises at the defunct Uluntu centre immediately.
According to the community reports, the sheriff ordered the security to remove all Mzimkulu’s belongings and put them on the road and lock the building.
Gugulethu EDC forum deputy chair and principal of Mathabo Educare in Barcelona informal settlement, Martha Makhura described the incident as a disgrace and humiliation to the children and staff. She said the children were left traumatised by the behaviour of the officers.
“Police were shooting people in front of the children,” Makhura said. “We had to run with the children for their safety.”
She said there is much concern about other pre-schools. “We don’t know which one is next, because there are many centres of early childhood development that operate on City premises. We are worried about the children, who will be stranded because of selfish people. We don’t know where to keep them because our pre-schools are all full,” she said.
Makhura said the forum will support Mzimkulu through thick and thin.
