DAY CARE COLLAPSES ON NANNY, CHILDREN

MANZINI – The community of Mangwaneni in Manzini almost told a horrible tale after an informal day care centre collapsed, with children and a caregiver inside, due to the recent rains.  

The seven children and their nanny escaped with varying injuries, which were treated and they were discharged at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital. The day care centre was made of stick and mud with a few bricks that were used to strengthen the walls.

However, it was no match for the heavy rains that could have contributed to its collapse. 
The incident took place on Friday morning after only seven children had been brought to the daycare by their parents. The care giver, Tholakele Cele, was waiting for the arrival of more children. The children are aged between one and four years.

A community member only identified as Make Gina, who also owns a spaza shop right next to the stick and mud day care centre said she only heard screams of help from Tholakele after a wall from the room collapsed.
“When I realised what had happened I quickly called my husband and other community members came to the rescue of the children by pulling them out of the rubble they were buried under. We quickly called an ambulance and their parents,” said Gina.

She said just as they were finished taking the children out from under the remains, they realised that the youngest of the children, who is said to be a year old was still buried under the rubble but was not making any sounds.
“Luckily after we took her out we found that she was still alive and we suspect that she was in too much shock as she could not even cry. She only started crying after we had pulled her out of the remains. Although she did not, have disturbing visible injuries, we insisted that she be taken by the ambulance in case her injuries were internal,” Gina added.

The community members explained that the day care centre had been operating for the past three years and the owner of the house was informed of its state several times and asked to look into it.
“The room has had cracks for the longest time and it did not look fit to house anyone, let alone children. Even though the rain contributed to the falling of the wall, it was long over due” said one community member.

Caregiver Tholakele was lucky to escape unharmed. After her return from the hospital, she said the house did indeed have cracks but she did not think it would collapse.  One of the children who were in the incident was found in her care with a bandage on his forehead after Friday’s aftermath. She said the wound was not very big and would heal once the bandage had been removed.

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