A mammoth R1,8 million infrastructural cash injection has contributed towards transforming an under-resourced Mbazwana crèche into a remarkable Enrichment Centre, which will serve as a critical learning hub for 65 other similarly affected facilities in the deeply rural uMkhanyakude District in KwaZulu-Natal.
Recognising the value of creating a high-quality demonstration site capable of benefiting the Early Childhood Development sector in this impoverished area, the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) committed significant infrastructure development funding to Siqalalapha Crèche, bringing on-stream brand new mobile classrooms for 120 young learners, as well as ablution, kitchen, office and sickroom facilities. In addition, security fencing was installed at the educational institution.
The SAMCT was introduced to the concept of supporting Enrichment Centre creation at the crèche by Lulamaphiko, a Botha’s Hill-based organisation dedicated to filling a big gap in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where inadequate service delivery and low-quality Early Childhood Development teaching and learning are the order of the day. Lulamaphiko, founded in 2021, was responsible for initiating a project to establish a Gold Standard Early Childhood Development centre at Siqalalapha Crèche. The crèche was well-managed, but was overcrowded and suffered from inadequate infrastructure.
At a special project hand-over ceremony at the upgraded facility recently, SAMCT representative, Mr Shabir Chohan, said: “Very few organisations support the critical and immensely valuable Early Childhood Development sector. I believe our investment in Siqalalapha Crèche’s infrastructure will go a considerable way towards enabling Lulamaphiko to achieving Gold Standard status here, creating a tangible benchmark of excellence and, thus, improving Early Childhood Development standards and outcomes across the uMkhanyakude District.”
At the hand-over ceremony, attended by a number of dignitaries, including KwaZulu-Natal’s Chief Director for Youth Development, Mr Sabelo Ntuli, and representatives of the Premier’s Office, Mr Chohan said: “The SAMCT is committed supporting the upliftment of Early Childhood Development centres across South Africa, recognising that quality early education forms the foundation for life-long learning and development.”
“By providing safe infrastructure, improved sanitation and environments conducive to sound learning, we set out to support vulnerable communities, enhancing the dignity, safety and educational outcomes of our country’s youth. Our investment in the Siqalalapha Crèche and Enrichment Centre upgrade initiative is, thus, a direct reflection of our organisation’s continued dedication to support for sustainable, community-driven projects which create meaningful and lasting impact.”
The SAMCT was created in 2008, the result of a partnership between Old Mutual Unit Trusts and Al Baraka Bank, for the creation, marketing and distribution of a suite of Shariah Funds. The organisation provides funding, services and other resources to improve the lives of the vulnerable, deprived and disadvantaged. It has successfully delivered sizeable assistance solutions throughout
South Africa – irrespective of race or religion – and continues to work to support needy organisations in the fields of healthcare, social development, poverty alleviation and education.
The organisation has long served as a pivotal conduit for the channelling of funding, vital services, and resources to approved public benefit organisations, and remains committed to catalysing positive change and creating a lasting impact on the development and upliftment of, especially, disadvantaged individuals and communities. Its funds are distributed to help improve the health and development of deserving people and organisations, irrespective of race or religion.
Mr Chohan said that Lulamaphiko’s vision of providing children in deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal with equal opportunities to grow and develop was ‘an inspiration to others,’ with its range of programmes and services aimed at improving outcomes for otherwise under-served youngsters.
At the beginning of 2025, no Early Childhood Development centre in this Municipal area met the Department of Basic Education’s requirements for Gold Status registration. Responding, Lulamaphiko launched an initiative to establish an Early Childhood Development Enrichment Centre capable of demonstrating high-quality teaching, learning and management. The project was designed to not only improve a single facility, but to create a learning hub and source of inspiration for other such centres across the Municipality.
Displaying many of the characteristics of a well-managed Early Childhood Development facility, in spite of operating with inadequate infrastructure for the 124 children enrolled there, Siqalalapha Crèche was identified through a transparent process with the whole Early Childhood Development Forum as the ideal candidate for transformation to the Department of Basic Education’s Gold Standard status. Based on the Department’s recommendations, Lulamaphiko approached potential funding partners to support the required infrastructure upgrades.
“Having been introduced to the concept by Lulamaphiko, we, of the SAMCT, were pleased to be in a position to offer a substantial cash injection directly to Siqalalapha Crèche, thus facilitating a significant advancement towards its eventual achievement of the sought-after Enrichment Centre Gold Standard status,” Mr Chohan added.
Lulamaphiko has a sound record of providing training and support to teachers, early childcare workers and parents, assessing and supporting Early Childhood Development centres to improve the quality of the teaching, learning and registration, educating centre staff and parents on nutrition and training and mentoring them to create food gardens and, crucially, facilitating collaboration between Government, the NGO sector and business to improve services for children living in poverty.
Mr Chohan stressed: “The SAMCT is proud to be associated with Siqalalapha Crèche and its Early Childhood Development Enrichment Centre goal. We believe that the infrastructural upgrades we have expedited will go a long way towards continuing and expanding the task of inspiring, training and equipping adults who care for or work with young children in the wider nMakhanyakude area.”
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer Tel: 084 506 2280
Email: samct@samct.co.za
www.samct.co.za