The South African Early Childhood Development (SA ECD) Awards, now in their 13^th year, awarded a total of R810 000.00 worth of prizes to the winners at a gala dinner held in Sandton at the Hilton Hotel on Thursday, 06 April 2017. The 34 finalists from all nine provinces were hosted by the Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, who is the national custodian of the awards. 

Among the finalists were participants who won the provincial phase of the awards in the categories of Best ECD Centre and Best ECD Practitioner.  The winners in these two categories are:  

Best ECD Practitioner of the Year

Rural category – Ditaba Monicca Marota of Bakwena Creche - Zebediela, Limpopo

Urban Category – Margareth Ntombi Mtsweni of Progress Day Care Centre – Secunda, Mpumalanga

Informal Category – Pauline Matlapeng of Lerato Early Learning Centre, Rustenburg, North West  

Best ECD Centre of the Year

Rural category – Patience McKay of Little Big Crèche , Pietermaritzburg, KZN

Urban Category – Joyce Mthombeni of Paballo Day Care Centre, Odendalsrus, Free State

Informal Category – Mmaphuti Dina Manyama of Boledi Crèche, Mahwelereng, Limpopo

Other national categories that were also awarded on the evening include:

Best ECD Programme for children and babies with disabilities of the year

Rural Category –Masixole Early Childhood Development Centre, Beaufort West Western Cape

Informal Category – Ntuthuko Stimulation Centre -  Soshanguve, Gauteng

Best ECD Emerging Author of the year 

Leah Thokozile Nhlabathi (Umhlangano we Zilwane) – Tsakane, Gauteng

Louisa Buthelezi (Different Friends) – Umlazi, KZN

Kgaogelo Modiga (Amakati Amancane Amabili) – Tsakane, Gauteng

Best ECD Illustrator of the Year

Little Boys and Little Girls Learn about Saving Water – Pretoria, Gauteng

Best ECD Author of the Year  

K.Mtuze for the book “uJongi neebhaloni” - KZN

Best Non-centre Based Programme of the Year

Katlehong Early Learning Resource Unit (KELRU) – Tsakane, Gauteng

Best ECD Trainer of the Year  

Ntombikayise Gama of Masakane ECD Training Centre – Standerton, Mpumalanga

Lindisa Ruth Nombewu of Centre for Social Development – Grahamstown, Eastern Cape

Ethel Koeberg of Ebenezer Training Organisation – Kimberley, Northern Cape

The NDA introduced a new category this year, the “Best ECD Centre Based Nutrition Programme of the year.”  This category recognises a nutrition programme that is centre based and designed in such a way that improves the nutritional status of children and contributes to their optimal growth and development. The winner in this category is:

Urban Category – Nokulunga Simie Shezi of the Good Shepherd Sizanani Creche – Pinetown, KZN

Informal Category – J