The Boksburg community is mourning the loss of Amanda Coetzee, the founder of Kuselo Child and Youth Care Services, whose life’s work was dedicated to protecting abused, neglected and abandoned children.

Coetzee (53) died shortly after midnight on July 20 following a battle with cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and organ failure.
For decades, she devoted herself to giving vulnerable children a safe place to heal and a chance at a better future.

Through Kuselo, which means ‘to protect’ – a mission that became the guiding principle of her life, Coetzee worked alongside the SAPS, social workers and welfare organisations to care for children removed from unsafe homes or dangerous conditions, while also providing counselling, family support and community outreach programmes.

Driven by her own experiences of hardship growing up, Coetzee pursued training in child protection, trauma counselling and family law mediation, determined to become a voice for children who could not speak for themselves.

Her daughter, Ebbiegail Kramm, who worked alongside her mother and now serves as Kuselo’s director, described her mother as someone who always put others first.

“She would go above and beyond for other people, especially safeguarding children. There was no task too small, and she didn’t know the word ‘no’. Even through illness, she remained passionate about helping children and families.”

Among Coetzee’s best-known initiatives was the Kuselo Window of Hope project, which introduced a Baby Saver Bin in Boksburg North, providing desperate mothers with a safe alternative to abandoning newborn babies.

Although the Baby Saver Bin project later closed, she continued her work protecting vulnerable children and supporting families in crisis.

Despite her declining health, the centre recently launched Kuselo Angel Day Care, a free daycare service aimed at helping unemployed parents by providing a safe environment where their children could be cared for while they searched for work.

Kramm said her mother’s vision never changed.

Despite battling COPD and cancer, Coetzee remained committed to the organisation for as long as her health allowed.

She often drew strength from Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Last year, local organisations and community members rallied together to raise funds for a home oxygen concentrator to help her continue receiving treatment.
According to Kramm, thousands of children and families have benefited from Kuselo’s services over the years.

Although her passing leaves a significant void, the organisation will continue her mission.

“We will continue all our programmes and community outreach because that is what she would have wanted,” said Kramm.

The family has also been overwhelmed by the support shown by the community.
“She was well known and deeply loved. The messages of support and condolences have meant so much to us.”

A private funeral for family and close friends will be held tomorrow, July 24, while a community memorial visibility drive is planned for July 28, allowing the community she served so faithfully to pay their final respects.

The details of the drive are:
Departure: 18:00 for 18:30 from Kuselo House, 46A 2nd Street, Boksburg North to St Michaels Hall, 1418, Kingfisher Avenue, Elspark, Germiston.
Refreshments will be served, and everyone is invited to join the memorial drive.

For more info regarding the drive, contact Ebbie on 073 516 8970.

Also Read: Help Kuselo take care of vulnerable children