The Department of Social Development is investigating a crèche in Retreat after a nine-month-old baby ended up in hospital.
Spokesperson for MEC Albert Fritz, Sihle Ngobese, confirmed the Busy Bees Daycare is not registered with the department.
Mother Nova Linnett says she was left traumatised after her baby, Zarah, ended up in hospital for three days with a bad case of gastro, a respiratory tract infections and a raw and bloody nappy rash, a month after joining Busy Bees.
She says Zarah started at the crèche on 2 January, but on 13 February, her child was dropped off at home with a letter from crèche owner Emmarien Saayman, terminating their contract for Zarah’s care.
TERMINATION: Letter from creche
Nova says along with the letter, Saayman sent a Shoprite-bag filled with vuil nappies and a 14-day refund on fees. Monthly fees for the crèche are R1 750.
Nova says all this happened after Zarah fell ill on 16 January.
“She had a terrible tummy bug and was throwing up. Her bum was raw and we took her to the doctor. I sent some cream along to the crèche for her bum and medicine,” she says.
“But my child just got worse. She had gastro and respiratory infections and I have never seen that kind of nappy rash.
“She was taken into hospital on 9 February and stayed there for three days.”
She contacted Saayman and was assured the matter would be investigated.
Nova, who works as an administrator, says Zarah was discharged on 11 February and went back to crèche on 13 February.
That afternoon Zarah was sent home for good.
“She was dumped at home with a bag full of dirty nappies. It was disgusting. They need to take responsibility for my child’s pain,” says the angry mom.
SENT HOME: Dirty nappies
But Saayman says Zarah arrived with the nappy rash and it worsened as she was teething.
Asked if her facility was registered with the Department of Social Development, Saayman claimed that was not necessary as she has only three babies at the daycare.
“My business is registered with Cipro (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission) by my attorney. We are not registered as an ECD with the department because I just have three babies here,” she said.
But according to a WhatsApp message Saayman had sent to Nova when she tried to enrol Zarah, Saayman said she had six babies at the crèche.
Nova says: “There are about 20 kids there. She is a liar.”
The DSD’s Ngobese says Nova’s claims are being investigated.
“We have begun an inquiry into this facility and the allegations against it. And we are appealing to these and any other aggrieved parents to contact our Metro South Regional Office or the Retreat Local Office, in order to report this matter to our social workers,” he says.
Nova says Zarah is currently being cared for by a nanny and is in good health.