By Sbongile Sokela
In the heart of KwaThema, a dedicated service centre for the elderly is doing its best to survive the challenges that come with being a non-profit organisation, NPO, during the “dry season,” a period when funding is delayed and the survival of many organisations is threatened.
“We are not a home, but a service centre,” explains Sibongile Choba, the manager of the centre. The centre is currently in limbo, waiting for the Service Level Agreement, SLA, to be signed and funds to be released. “Mainly, a lot of NPOs will close because they don’t have funds. They only have COFAs from the government, which funds us for only 70% of the operational costs, so even when money comes through, we are only getting a lesser amount.”
Despite the financial strain, the centre remains active, providing vital services to the elderly. “They have a gym, choir, sporting courts that we call the Golden Games, where they partake with other old age homes, locally, regionally, and nationally. That’s what they embark on. But mainly, we also give them breakfast, and we also give them lunch,” said Choba.
The meals are not just ordinary; they are carefully prepared under the guidance of a dietitian. “We are dealing with people who have chronic diseases or people who are over-aged,” Choba explains.
The centre is fully compliant with regulations and has the necessary documents in place: “We have a certificate of acceptability, NPO certificate, health report, are registered with the Department itself, have a compliance letter, and our fire extinguishers are in line. Our staff members are trained for first aid and basic fire training.”
Membership at the centre is structured and well-documented. “We have beneficiaries’ files. We have the ones who are active and the frail. Active means you have been registered. We have an admission policy, which means you have to be 60 years old, and living in or around KwaThema.”
Even with a health certificate that permits the intake of up to 365 individuals, the centre is currently only funded for 120 but is managing an intake of 153. “To keep the NPO running, the elderly pay an amount of R100 at the beginning, which is a registration fee,” she said.
One of the major challenges faced by the NPO is maintaining an active board. “The community doesn’t understand that as an NPO, you need to have a board in office. We have five board members. The fact that board members volunteer and we have no funds to pay them, we only give them transport money, so people lose interest very fast,” said Choba. “Not being transparent also causes an NPO to close.”
Through all of this, the KwaThema Service Centre continues to be a beacon of hope for the elderly in the community.
For more information contact, Sibongile Choba (Manager)
Tel: 011 736 3560
Cell: 078 285 6126
