After almost 40 years in the community, a Hout Bay preschool embroiled in a legal battle with the City has confirmed it will close at the end of the year.
The Best Buddies Educare Centre has been notified by the City that it is “not authorised” to operate as a school (“’Unauthorised’ preschool clashes with City,” Sentinel, October 23).
“It’s being said by the City of Cape Town that Best Buddies does not have the land-use rights to operate as a school. Although the school has been operational for 38 years. When I purchased Best Buddies from the previous owner, Angie Long, I assumed everything was in place, but it clearly wasn’t,” owner Tasja White told the Sentinel last month.
But the puzzle over the preschool’s status deepened when Ms Long sent Sentinel documentation showing that Best Buddies had been registered with the provincial Department of Social Development, in 2017, as a creche and educare, with the registration expiring in February 2022.
“We had all the certificates, clearances for the 34 years, and we have proof of everything. I definitely would not have been able to run the school without all the proper licences and checks from the fire, health department and social services. We were definitely licensed and legal with all the neighbours’ permission. Best Buddies’ licence was renewed every five years since 1986,“ Ms Long said at the time.
Another document showed the City’s health department had inspected the school in 2019 and found its toilets and classrooms were “safe and satisfactory”.
Founded in 1986, the non-profit preschool offered sponsorships and education for disadvantaged children, according to its website.
It has 16 full-time staff and 77 children from the ages of three months to 5 years old.
Ms White confirmed to the Sentinel this week that the preschool would close for good on Friday December 13.
“We’ve had no response from the City regarding all our emails sent about the land use. We have decided to close the school at the end of this year and our status remains unchanged.
“In the midst of this, most of the parents have secured spaces at other schools for next year. We also have three staff members that have already secured other positions.”
She confirmed that she had put the property up for sale and that it was being advertised by a local agent.
With the City claiming there was no land-use approval to operate a school, Ms White said she had to pay an admin penalty to remain open and had been summonsed to appear in court on Wednesday September 30.
The case was postponed to Monday January 27 next year pending the outcome of a land-use application Ms White had subsequently submitted.
Asked if it was aware of the school’s imminent closure, the City said: “There are currently no updates on the matter. We await the outcome of the application process. We will follow-up on this matter after Monday January 27 next year.”
Ward councillor Roberto Quintas said the preschool’s owner was best placed to answer questions about its closure.
“I understand that there are various versions of events leading up to this closure with much conjecture. However, it is a private business, which has made a definite decision based on its own operations.“
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Milicent Merton said: “Any closure consideration is a personal decision by the facility owner.” …..
