Hyde Park care centre needs R6m for relocation to Midrand
San Salvador Home in Hyde Park is seeking public and corporate support to raise R6m for a new facility in Midrand after being informed its current property will be sold.
San Salvador Home in Hyde Park is commemorating 90 years of care while preparing to move to a new residence.
The home currently houses 58 women with intellectual and physical disabilities. Many of the residents are from disadvantaged communities and backgrounds, and some are without families and support systems. San Salvador Home is the only home they have, with nowhere else to go.
Ronelle Sartor, the general manager, said it was heartbreaking to be informed that the property, occupied by the organisation since 1936, is to be sold for commercial development.
She added that the non-profit organisation, operating with very limited resources, was forced to either close or find a way of continuing its care elsewhere. “In my many years here, I have watched these women build a life within these walls,” said Sartor. “Friendships, routines and a genuine sense of belonging and community cannot simply be packed into a box and moved.”
The CEO of the Dominican Sisters, who own the property, Erika Woxholt, said they were unable to comment at this stage.
“Senior Tshifhiwa, the prioress general or congregational leader, is travelling back from East London today after the SA Assembly, and leaving for Europe early next week for the ceremonial handover of leadership,” said Woxholt. “It is rather bittersweet as the congregation is very much at the end of this phase. God willing, there will be a new phase.”
Also read: San Salvador Home pleads for help to raise funds to move
Woxholt added that Senior Tshifhiwa Munzhedzi would only be available for comment mid-October on her return.
Sartor highlighted that the transition would be hard for the residents. “Moving to a different area would also result in staff losing support from donors, stakeholders, community groups, schools, universities and training institutions that use the home for practical training in medical and human sciences.”
A potential new property has been identified, with Sartor noting that the home would be moving to Cluny Farm Centre. “Cluny Farm is located on a 42-hectare property on Rose Road, Kyalami, Midrand. This organisation also provides residential care to 45 residents with intellectual disabilities.”
The property is big enough for San Salvador Home to build a new, 30-bed facility, and the organisation will continue operating independently. However, the estimated costs to bring the facility to the required standard are R6m.
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The Hyde Park facility was initially told to vacate by December 2026, but due to factors outside its control, construction of the new facility will take longer.
“The estimated time of completion for the new facility is April 2027. Hopefully, we will be allowed to stay on until then, failing which our residents will literally be out on the street.”
San Salvador Home is appealing to businesses, trust funds and generous donors to help raise this larger sum and welcomes any enquiries and assistance. According to Sartor, the initial quote for moving costs alone was R250 000.
“They have since revised the quotes, omitting some of the items we will try to move ourselves, and their final quote is over R214 000. Please note that this is the quote for moving only. If any company can render assistance with this, it will help so much.”
A BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign was also launched as a way to raise funds from the public.
To assist, the public or companies can:
• Offer a facility or property,
• Assist with moving costs: donations and logistical support,
• Furniture and kitchen equipment for the new premises,
• Donations of paint, bricks, paving, building supplies, etc,
• Financial assistance and donations to cover building costs, and
• Assistance with installing solar power.
Section 18A certificates will be provided to donors, and sponsors will be acknowledged, for example, buildings will be named after them.
For more information, visit www.sansalvadorhome.org, or Sartor can be contacted via email at ronelle@sansalvadorhome.org, or on 010 449 6459 or 082 878 8630.
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