The SAVF Middelburg Old Age Home was part of the 120th celebrations of the SAVF organisation.
A big party was held at the SAVF Old Age Home to celebrate the special occasion.
During the event, a National Zoom meeting was held with the organisation’s chief executive officer, Adriaan Raubenheimer, and the SAVF president, Graeme Peplar.
Here is the interesting history of the SAVF (provided to the Middelburg Observer by Bernice du Plessis, manager of the Middelburg SAVF Old Age Home):
1904: The SAVF was founded on the initiative of Georgiana Solomon, a Scottish lady, in 1904 in Pretoria, at the home of Annie Botha, wife of General Louis Botha. This occasion was attended by a group of women deeply concerned about the dire circumstances prevailing after the war.
The founding date of the SAVF is at the same time as the founding date of the Pretoria branch, called the ‘mother branch’ of the SAVF.
1905: The first ‘Rescue House for Unmarried Mothers’ in Transvaal opened on October 26, 1905. From 1927, the Rescue House was known as the Armstrong Berning Tehuis and was situated in Struben Street, Pretoria.
1910: The first SAVF Old Age Home opened in Mark Street, Krugersdorp. SAVF Môreglans Old Age Home was established after the death of a homeless elderly person in a nearby field. This touched the volunteers in such a way that the first old age home was established.
SAVF established a CNO school and the first School for Domestic Science in Transvaal.
1918: The founding of maternity homes and health services.
1919: The Moedersbond housed in the former home of President Kruger, Church Street, Pretoria, started training midwives.
The building on Beatrix Street was occupied in 1932. Maternity institutions and clinic services flourished everywhere but were later transferred by SAVF to other interested institutions. Moedersbond closed in 1992.
1926: The first spiritual and social care worker was appointed in Lichtenburg for the informal mining industry.
1929: The Christian Girls Home for low-income young ladies opened in Pretoria.
1938: A trained ‘social worker’ was appointed on August 1 as the first organising secretary of SAVF. By 1944, 16 social workers were employed.
1940: The first Afrikaans nursery school in Transvaal, Kleuterskool Kleinspan, was attached to the Armstrong Berning Tehuis in Pretoria. This was the first of many nursery schools that were established over time.
1946: The Marié Bergsma community centre, Nylstroom, was inaugurated as the first countryside Community Centre on November 30.
1951: The SAVF sewing centre in Pretoria was opened on January 15. This centre follows basket making, numerous sewing classes, spinning and weaving schools and blanket factories that were established in 1905 to enhance job creation.
1953: The Klerksdorp Kinderhawe opened in August as the first SAVF Children’s Home. This children’s home was the frontrunner for more children’s homes that were established in the early nineties.
1958: The first play centre for afterschool children opened in February in Pretoria.
1962: SAVF branches take over the management of Diensprodukte, a protective labour factory, of the Council of Johannesburg.
1964: The founding of the SAVF Action for Parent Guidance. It contains self-help groups and the Botswadi programme that focus on the less literate parents. SAVF Famnet (family network) developed from a previous structure for parental guidance and currently renders family-centred services.
1978: The first SAVF Service Centre for the Elderly opened in February at Ruimte Housing Project in Pretoria-North.
The SAVF Council for Social Care was launched on March 20 to enhance service delivery to community members in Lichtenburg. The social work focus shifted to community development. SAVF remained a role player in the community and was also involved in various cultural actions, folk festivals, congresses, conferences and women’s marches.
1981: SAVF National office is relocated on August 14 to 41 Hospitaal Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, in the building previously known as Huis Du Rand Home for the Aged.
1986: Decided that SAVF Congress to be held every three years as per congress resolution.
1993: The first shelter, SAVF Family Crisis Centre in Standerton was officially opened on March 30, and the Weesgerus Shelter in Ellisras, two months later.
1995: Service delivery expanded mainly into underdeveloped and previously disadvantaged communities.
1996: Membership opened up for all, including men.
1999: The first affiliates of the SAVF were approved as a support system for upcoming organisations.
2003: The provincial areas of operation of SAVF, namely Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West, expanded to include KwaZulu-Natal when NCVV became part of the SAVF. All members and interested people started registering as SAVF volunteers according to a new volunteer system.
2004: SAVF Centenary celebrations. The SAVF Rose was introduced at the Centenary celebration, as well as the complete history of the SAVF – ‘SAVF Centenary Memorial Book 1904–2004’, compiled by CM Bothma.
SAVF delivers services in the fields of Child- and Youth Care, Social Development and Family Care, and Elderly and Disabled care.
2008: During the SAVF Congress, the Structural Analysis was finalised to make SAVF more streamlined.
SAVF Structural analysis: Each province established a provincial office, in Heidelberg (later Pretoria), Pietermaritzburg, Pietersburg (Polokwane), Middelburg and Lichtenburg.
The National Executive Board composition is reduced, and from provinces, only provincial leaders now serve on the NEB.
The logo is renewed, and the use of SAVF as an official name has been confirmed.
The first of many SAVF gala dinners was held in aid of the SAVF Development and Empowerment Fund (DEF) for child- and youth centres.
2014: The first of many SAVF gala dinners was held in aid of the SAVF DEF for child- and youth centres.
2017: SAVF’s first male president, Graeme Peplar, was elected.
2019: The SAVF National Office upgrading started.
2021: The first SAVF CEO, Adriaan Raubenheimer, was appointed in November.
2022: SAVF Objectives incorporated: S: Superior Service, A: Approachable Attitude, V: Value, F: Family Friendly Facilities.
2023: Congress: Vision and mission rebranding and renewal of the Constitution.
2024: On its 120th birthday, the SAVF boasts 258 facilities and 165 NGOs.
