Last chance for ECD centres to verify details of Stimulus Employment Relief Fund

Early Childhood Development Centres (ECD) that were not approved for the ECD stimulus relief fund, but have since received text messages from the department, have until Tuesday to correct their data information, in order to be approved for the roll-over funding.

Department of Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said those who did not previously qualify for funding because they gave incorrect data information could reapply for the stimulus relief, subject to verification processes.

“We are aware that we did not make payment to all stimulus applicants. The money has not all been spent and we have applied to the National Treasury that the money rolls over, and those who have not been paid will be paid,” she said.

Zulu urged ECD applicants who have received text messages to go back to the application website and reapply. No new applicants would be approved, only those who received text messages from the department.

The Western Cape’s Social Development MEC, Sharna Fernandez, has encouraged those to verify their information if they haven’t done so already.

‘’The ECD sector has been particularly hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic due to prolonged closures. Consequently, the Early Childhood Development Employment Stimulus Relief Fund is part of sustaining employment opportunities in the sector in light of the high unemployment rate and job losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.’’

As part of the ongoing verification process that is completed by the National Department of Social Development, field workers have been deployed in all nine provinces, to provide ECD Stimulus Employment Relief Fund applicants with onsite support to attend to outstanding matters on their application.

 

During the site verification visit, services are requested to take note of the following to ensure that they do not share personal information with unauthorised persons.

 

·        Fieldworkers will be wearing a name tag with the fieldworker’s full name and fieldworker code.

·        Fieldworkers can present a signed letter from the DSD stating the purpose of the visit.

·        Fieldworkers can present the SurveyCTO app on their phones used for capturing the site verification data.

 

It is important to note that ECD services will NOT be allowed to start new applications or add new staff members to their current applications.

 

WHO TO CONTACT:

 All applicants that have not received payment are requested to check their application status on www.ecd.gov.za/ecd/application/start. Once services have logged on using their application ID or reference, they will be able to view their application status and address any verification failures indicated. Should services not be able to correct the indicated error, services should email their query to ecdstimulus@dgmt.co.za before 31 August 2021.

 

•        Fieldwork enquires (related to site visits): Milton Yose – milton@datainnovators.com // 011 568 3333

•        Remote support: Masego Tabane- masego@datainnovators.com // 011 568 3333

•        Programme Manager: Olwethu Sizani- Olwethu@datainnovators.com

 

The National Department of Social Development further notes that it is unable to process any payments if applications have bank and staff verification inaccuracies as a result of wrong information submitted by applicants. Hence, applicants need to verify their details and do the necessary corrections to avoid payment delays.