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The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), the City of Johannesburg’s implementing agency, has undertaken more than 1000 infrastructure projects, and has begun the construction of the Yetta Nathan Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Community Centre on behalf of the city’s Social Development Department. 

The MMC for Health and Social Development, Cllr Ashley Sauls, held a sod-turning ceremony that involved handing over the site to the contractors on Wednesday, 20 April 2022.

The construction of the Yetta Nathan ECD Centre, a resource-efficient green building, will build stronger local communities, support children’s education and development, and serve as a multifunctional, sustainable, and safe environment to provide children with enhanced playing and learning experience. 

The ECD centre will be an extension of the existing multi-purpose community facility at Yetta Nathan, Soweto and will encapsulate modern childhood development facilities. Including classrooms, play spaces, indoor and outdoor ancillary spaces like kitchens, libraries, and toy stores.

“The JDA deals with the renovation, innovation and re-imagination of Johannesburg’s built environment and urban communities. The agency uses an inclusive approach of area-based development when implementing projects in our communities, to meet the strategic City development vision and objectives,” MMC for Development Planning, Cllr Belinda Echeozonjoku said.

“The construction will be in two phases, the first phase expected to start this month, with completion after eight months and phase two to begin on 01 November 2022,” she said.

A FACILITY WHICH ADVOCATES SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCES

The construction site for the new 2875m² Yetta Nathan ECD Centre is located on November Street in Orlando West in Soweto.

The external portions of the buildings will consist of safe playing spaces and an agricultural component. The lower ground facility features a 17m² aquafarm area to allow hydroponic farming, a soil-less, water-based farming process, which is a greener approach to agricultural production.

Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony, MMC Sauls said, “I trust that the new Yetta Nathan ECD and Community Centre will enhance the good work done at this facility. It is encouraging that the main objective of this centre is to provide inclusive developmental programs to children ages 0 to 5.”

HISTORY OF YETTA NATHAN

The Yetta Nathan ECD training centre, which dates to the Second World War, eventually became a creche in 1953. The Yetta Nathan ECD Training Facility became the City of Johannesburg’s first Early Childhood Development Centre in 2003.

Issued by The Johannesburg Development Agency