St Francis reflects on a year of care and resilience

St Francis Care Centre reflected on a year marked by continued care, new partnerships and ongoing challenges during its 32nd AGM, held at the centre in Eveleigh on September 23.

The meeting brought together board members, staff, volunteers and stakeholders to consider the organisation’s annual reports, audited financial statements, governance matters and plans for the year ahead.

Presenting his first centre manager’s report, Lebo Ntjona described the year under review as one of challenge, transition, resilience and growth.

The report covered the period from April 1, 2025 to March 31 and highlighted the range of services provided by the centre.

In its adult hospice, 175 patients received palliative care during the reporting period, comprising 78 men and 97 women.

The centre also recorded 49 deaths, while its social worker provided psychosocial support and bereavement counselling to 88 patients and their families.

The hospice continues to face pressure around funding, staffing and equipment.

According to the report, the Department of Health subsidy covered only five of the centre’s 30 available beds.

Challenges included irregular nursing salaries, a shortage of care helpers, ageing equipment and a lack of specialist referrals and medical-aid patients.

The centre also called for more referrals from hospitals, specialists and doctors to ensure that suitable patients can access palliative care.

Caring for children

Rainbow Cottage, which provides residential, medical, emotional, physical and spiritual care to vulnerable children from birth to seven years, cared for 50 children during the reporting period, including 17 new admissions.

The programme also recorded several positive placement outcomes, with three children reunited with their biological families, one placed in foster care, two adopted and three transferred to other child and youth care centres.

The centre conducted 50 multidisciplinary case panels to monitor the children’s progress and determine appropriate plans for their futures.

However, finding suitable placements for children with special needs, limited family cooperation and delays in birth registration remained challenges.

Support reaches Vosloorus families

Through its home-based care programme, the centre continued supporting vulnerable people and families in formal and informal settlements in Vosloorus, including hostel communities.

The programme assisted 111 orphans and vulnerable children with homework, healthcare and treatment adherence, while 598 adults receiving treatment received home visits, adherence support and basic counselling.

The team also opened 23 new household files and referred 15 clients for specialised assistance relating to grief, trauma, substance abuse and domestic violence.

A further 125 Grade Eight learners at PT Xulu Secondary School participated in social behaviour programmes, while a bullying-awareness initiative reached 240 Grade Eight and Nine learners and eight school staff members.

Thousands reached through HIV and TB screening

The centre’s HTS Social Mobilisation Programme also remained active in the community.
During the reporting period, its three teams tested 13 342 people for HIV and screened 21 546 people for tuberculosis.

Of those tested for HIV, 76 people tested positive and were referred for treatment.

The programme worked with several health and community partners, including Boksburg North Clinic, the Ekurhuleni HIV/AIDS Unit, Wits RHI and National Health Screening Services.

Volunteers remain part of the care team

Volunteer co-ordinator reports presented at the AGM also highlighted the role played by volunteers in supporting both adult patients and children.

Volunteers assist with activities ranging from spending time with patients, reading and talking to them to helping with feeding and providing drinks.

At Rainbow Cottage, they spend time playing with the children and providing companionship and care.

The centre also welcomed young people from schools who volunteer as part of Life Orientation and community-service requirements.

However, the volunteer report noted that there had been limited interest from members of the broader community in volunteering during the year.

Volunteers also helped with special occasions, including an Easter celebration for patients and children on April 4.

The centre said new volunteers receive an orientation covering the centre’s procedures, activities and responsibilities before they begin working with patients.

Looking ahead

The AGM also considered governance matters, including amendments to the centre’s constitution to provide for a five-year term of office for board members, effective from September 2026.

Board members were elected and the newly elected board was confirmed, while auditors were also appointed for the coming financial year.

The hospice’s plans for 2026/27 include strengthening referral pathways from specialists, families and hospitals, increasing access to medical-aid patients and expanding palliative-care training for nurses, social workers and other employees.

For Ntjona, the centre’s work cannot be measured only through statistics.

“The story of St Francis Care Centre is not simply a story of programmes, statistics and reports. It is a story of people serving people,” he said.

He thanked the board, staff, volunteers, donors, government departments and community partners for their continued support.

The AGM formally closed after members considered the reports, financial statements, governance matters and plans for the coming year.

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