Angry community members descended on a closed-down daycare centre in Southernwood, demanding answers from the owner about the deaths last Tuesday of two babies.
In the emotional crowd were parents whose children had attended the Happiness and Excellence childcare centre.
The group turned away some parents who had brought their children to the centre as usual. They appeared confused when told it had been shut down on Wednesday by the social development department because it was unregistered, and social workers had found it filthy. It also lacked any educational programme.
Some parents were shocked to read in Wednesday’s Daily Dispatch of the deaths at the centre on Tuesday afternoon of Ezam Makhabane, aged five months, and Kwahlelwa Ndongeni, aged six months.
Family of the children accused the crèche owner of not being forthcoming with information on how the infants had died and that she had used a taxi to take the children to the hospital.
On Thursday, the crèche owner, Patricia Rice told the Daily Dispatch she had been sitting outside minding the older children when one of her helpers called saying there was something wrong with the two babies.
“It was about 2pm and they were lying on the same bed where I left them to attend to other children.
“When I went in, I noticed that they were lying still and I could tell that there was something wrong with them.
“I immediately called a Bolt cab, because this was the first thing that came to my mind, to take the babies to the hospital.
“On the way there, I called both parents but their phones were on voicemail.
“I do not know what happened and I have more questions than answers about the whole situation. I am heartbroken,” Rice said.
She said she had not registered the crèche because it had started out small with two or three children in 2017.
Through referrals, the numbers increased to 30 with fees ranging between R500 to R600 per month, per child.
“I can’t dispute the department’s statement that the babies were already dead when we got to the hospital because I was in a state of confusion.
“I even collapsed at the hospital after hearing of the deaths,” she said.
Parent Sakhumzi Yokwana said parents were concerned over the owner’s failure to provide a “sound explanation” for the deaths.
Yokwana said last week his two-year-old daughter had developed sores on her head.
After her persistent scratching, they took her to a salon. When her hair was cut, the sores were discovered.
“It was shocking, the sores were spreading to other parts of her body. Our main concern now is where are we going to refer the children to, because other facilities around here have their own challenges.
“I worry because the woman is not offering straight and clear answers about the condition of her crèche,” Yokwana said.
Initially it was believed they were taken to the hospital at separate times but they were actually taken at the same time.
Later on Thursday, parents remained at the gate of the house discussing a way forward, saying other childcare facilities in the areas also had their problems..
Cat Moji, said it was difficult for parents to take their children to other existing childcare centres in the area as there had been cases of children taking ill there too.
“Taking the children to existing crèches around here is not a solution. Parents keep quiet about what is happening to their children at these crèches until something bad happens.
“There have been many cases where children get sick and there has been at least one death that I recall at a the facility in the area.
“This means that closing down this one is not the solution. That requires us as residents and parents to meet and discuss ways of improving the conditions under which children are looked after,” Moji said.
On Thursday, provincial social development MEC Siphokazi Lusithi encouraged parents to enrol children at registered centres.
She said the crèche had operated in an unhygienic environment and close to liquor outlets, which compromised the welfare of children.
The provincial health department said the autopsy results were still outstanding.
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