Help Reinhardt’s Place remain sustainable
Reinhardt’s Place also offers holiday and temporary care for disabled persons.
Reinhardt’s Place in Pumula, which is centred on multi-disabled persons and reducing the effects of mental disabilities of such patients, calls on the community for financial aid, as many patients are unable to pay for themselves and have no family to pick up the daily costs.
Elize and PW Botha are the driving force behind the non-profit, which first opened its doors in Pretoria in 1994 and later moved to the South Coast. It’s named after Elize’s son Reinhardt, also a patient, aged 46, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of five.
After Reinhardt’s autism diagnosis, doctors informed Elize that he was at an equal mental developmental stage as that of a 17.5 month old infant. He was subsequently required to re-learn to walk correctly, as well as other general daily processes.
However, despite the current challenges, the Bothas are passionate about helping the disabled, and patients remain in the centre under daily care.
The major expenses are property insurance, bond, salaries, electricity and petrol. The centre also needs a kombi/minibus for efficient transport of their patients to church and hospital, as well as a microwave.
PW emphasised that the centre is PBO, NGO and NPO certified and therefore falls under Section 18A, meaning donations are tax-deductible.
The aim is to expand the premises, as they currently have 20 patients but are able to cater for 30.
Reinhardt’s Place also offers holiday and temporary care for disabled persons. Patients treat one another as siblings and are entertained with music, games, the beach and other activities.
Sadly, Elize recalls multiple unpleasant incidents where some locals have been rude to her and have even labelled the centre as a ‘burden to society’.
The couple calls on the community to raise their empathy levels with regards to their perception of disabled persons. Reinhardt’s Place, despite its challenges, effortlessly aims to establish a sense of belonging for patients or ‘forever children’.
Although Reinhardt’s condition does not critically threaten his physical health, he is unable to talk and communicate efficiently. As an adult, he remains deeply fascinated with anything related to water.
When Reinhardt was 14 months of old, Elize became concerned with his behaviour and demeanour after he stopped talking, and did not allow any affection from his parents or others.
In 1982, Elize tried to enrol Reinhardt, born in Johannesburg, at Glenn Doman’s Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential, based in Philadelphia, USA.
Reinhardt only gained entry two years later, as a result of the capacity and waiting list. The institute was and continues to be renowned for its treatment and rehabilitation of brain-damaged children.
On one of her return trips to Philadelphia, Elize and Reinhardt were stopped by individuals in suits at JFK International Airport, in what she described as a scene out of a movie.
They were interrogated and accused of being anti-apartheid activists and allies of Desmond Tutu, who had been visiting the USA around the same time.
After three hours of interrogation and a missed flight, despite having all the necessary documents confirming Reinhardt’s enrolment at the centre, mother and son were denied entry and forced to return to South Africa.
Reinhardt was then enrolled at UNICA School for Autism in Johannesburg. Later, Elize and PW, Reinhardt’s adoptive father opened Reinhardt’s Place in 1994 and welcomed their first patient in 1996.
If able to assist, contact the Bothas on 072 7379184.
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