EC Education Department to Investigate Child’s Death at ECD Centre

The Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) has announced an investigation into the tragic death of a young learner who drowned in an unfinished pit toilet at an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre in the OR Tambo District.

According to the department, Ungentanto Yena, a learner at Khulangolwazi ECD Centre, died last week after reportedly falling into the unfinished toilet pit at the facility. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised concerns about safety standards at ECD centres.

The department said Khulangolwazi ECD Centre is a newly established programme operating under “Bronze registration” status as part of the ECD Mass Registration pathway. This status indicates that the centre has been identified for support and is working towards meeting the requirements for full registration.

Officials stressed that Bronze status does not amount to full registration but forms part of a process designed to assist ECD centres in achieving compliance with registration, health, safety and infrastructure requirements.

The ECDoE said it would work closely with the Mhlontlo Local Municipality and other stakeholders to support the centre’s progression towards full compliance while investigations continue.

Education MEC Fundile Gade extended condolences to the bereaved family and the ECD centre community.

“We have activated our psychosocial services to provide trauma counselling and debriefing to the family and the centre. Since our learner died in this facility, we commit to investigate the circumstances that led to the death,” Gade said.

He added that a departmental team would be dispatched to the facility next week to begin the investigation.

“As the sector, we send our heartfelt condolences to the family, the centre and its community. Next week we will dispatch a team to the facility to start the investigation. Our department will cooperate with any law enforcement agencies conducting investigations on the matter,” Gade said.

The department cautioned that it would be premature to draw conclusions or apportion blame before the completion of both the departmental investigation and any law enforcement inquiries into the incident.