​Thembisa Shologu
Hundreds of children in Devon, Sedibeng will benefit from the new John Jangaiso Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD).
The R18 million facility, which took 24 months to complete, will accommodate 80 learners and support staff.
The new centre consists of four learning areas, an administration block, kitchen, four sick bays, nurses' station, a storeroom, ablution, changing rooms and refuse yard.
Government's ECD programme offers a comprehensive approach and policies for children from birth to seven years of age. Its purpose is to protect the rights of children to develop their full cognitive, emotional, social and physical potential.
Through the Vangasali Programme, the Gauteng Provincial Government intends to ensure that all EDC are compliant with policies and that no child is left behind in early development.
"This is very important for the department as we believe that the first 100 days in the development of a child are very important and contribute to a firm foundation for a child," said Social Development MEC Morakane Mosupyoe at the handover.
She was joined by Infrastructure Development MEC Tasneem Motara.
For her part, Motara said the Gauteng Provincial Government is prioritising the development of EDCs in rural nodes of the province. 
"We are taking development even in the most rural Gauteng area of our province. We also have rural, very poor and disfranchised communities and bringing such advanced development will only go a long way in advancing our developmental agenda," said MEC Motara.
Resident, Thoko Skhosana (57) vowed to protect the centre from vandalism adding that it is the first of its kind in their area.