Early Childhood Development (ECD) workers, activists, parents and supporters, gathered outside Parliament demanding that outstanding Employment Stimulus Relief Funds be paid out before March 31.
The group presented their memorandum to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development calling for the Department of Social Development (DSD) to be held to account and to ensure that the needed funds are not lost.
The Western Cape Department of Social Development announced on Tuesday that it has appointed a service provider to assist with disbursing the Relief Fund to those eligible ECD centres that are still waiting to receive funding.
The department had received R53 million as part of the ECD Relief Fund which been paid to less than half of the centres.
The organiser of the protest Najwah Mukadam said the funds must be paid before the end of the month.
"Before the Department of Social Development (DSD) loses more than R250 million at the end of this financial year - money which is due to the ECD sector, and which may be lost due to the government department inefficiencies," said Mukadam.
DA MP on the Social development Portfolio committee welcomed the memorandum and promised to hold the minister accountable.
"The ECD sector have been extremely patient noting that this fund was announced in February 2020. They are asking for communication and transparency from the department. We will forward it to the chairperson and make sure that the department is held accountable," said Abrahams.