THE Siyazama Educare Centre for Disabled Children in Gugulethu has been left bankrupt after the Western Cape health department stopped funding it.

The centre serves about 40 children aged between 15 months and 18 years.

Despondent principal Nomalanga Mamputa said they received a letter early this year from the department, saying it would not fund the centre anymore.

In April they were given money for 25 children only. "Where did they get the money from, because they said they didn't have money for this year?" Mamputa asked.

After being funded for a decade by the government, the decision to cut funding was a big blow. "Parents still bring their children here, they don't want to stop.

"And what kills me is that I have to pay for food and transport to pick up the children from their homes," she said.

The centre employs 10 members of staff, whose jobs are now in jeopardy.

Mamputa said they were struggling because their only income was R200 a month paid by each parent - some of whom can't even afford that.

Western Cape health department spokesperson Faiza Steyn said the decision to cut funding was made after an inspection team visited the centre five times and found only between 21 and 23 children at the centre, instead of the 53 who were being funded.

"The inspection team ... strongly motivated the department to stop funding for the 2010/2011 financial year," she said.

When Sowetan visited the centre this week there were only 13 children because "the others had been taken for physiotherapy at the Red Cross Hospital".