Cape Town - The South African Education Project (SAEP) is calling for immediate intervention for the safety of staff and children at early childhood development (ECD) centres following a recent incident where a principal was shot in the face at a Philippi edu-care centre.
According to provincial police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk, three suspects came to a local edu-care centre in Island, Lower Crossroads, to enquire about a child. When the principal tried to assist them, one of the suspects took out a firearm and started to shoot at her.
“The principal sustained three gunshot wounds to her face and was taken to a nearby hospital, where she is still in a critical condition. An attempted murder and house robbery case was opened and the case is currently under investigation as no arrests have been made,” said Van Wyk.
According to witnesses, children were found cramped on the sliding door crying and witnessing the incident, and the men were said to have fled with the phones and TV in a black Mazda and an Avanza. Police arrived at the scene 45 minutes after the incident occurred.
Director of the Centre for Early Childhood Development, Eric Atmore, said the recent attacks were appalling as staff members were only trying their best to build the nation.
“These recent attacks on ECD centres and the staff are appalling. This is happening more and more because ECD centres are highly visible in communities and also vulnerable. ECD should be places where young children are protected, where they are educated and fed. Dedicated teachers care for these children under difficult circumstances. They work long hours, for low pay, with little recognition. To come under any form of attack or violence is shocking as these women are building our country,” said Atmore.
SAEP spokesperson Shane Everts added that urgent intervention from safety structures needed to be implemented to ensure staff and children centres were safe.
“We strongly condemn the attacks on ECD centres targeting vulnerable women and children. We appeal to Police Minister Bheki Cele and Cape Town mayoral committee member for safety and security, Alderman JP Smith, to urgently intervene and secure the safety of our women and children in their schools and early childhood development centres,” said Everts.