Badisa Tygerberg, one of the earliest Christian Social Council (CSR) offices in the Cape Peninsula, was founded in 1939. For years, it served as the head office of the CMR Western Cape, pioneering groundbreaking work in child and family care services, adoption, services for street children, support for individuals with HIV/AIDS, and elderly care services.
From its office in Parow, Badisa Tygerberg provided services to the communities of Fish Hoek, Wynberg, Parow, Goodwood, Bellville, Kraaifontein, Scottsdene, and Kuilsrivier. Between 1998 and 2004, the organisation underwent significant unbundling, restructuring, and adaptation, culminating in the new dispensation brought by Badisa in 2003. Despite facing substantial challenges, the organisation continued its mission.
However, in 2012, Badisa Tygerberg’s funds were exhausted, rendering the service no longer feasible. The prospect of failure loomed, affecting 991 children, 1,285 adults (565 households), seven social workers, and three social support workers.
In August 2013, the Badisa Management Team intervened, sending two Managers: Social Services, Juanita Beukes and Reneé Pretorius, to Tygerberg with the task of protecting the legacy dating back to the early 1900s and saving the office from ruin within two years. With a clear understanding of the gravity of the situation, Juanita and Reneé led the staff in a determined effort to revitalise the service.
Gradually, overdue work was brought up to date. The staff, inspired by their leaders, went above and beyond, walking the extra mile to restore confidence in service delivery. Despite facing resistance, criticism, and disappointment from the community, they persevered. The community expressed feelings of abandonment during times of need, and stakeholders showed little trust in Badisa.
Yet, under Juanita and Reneé’s guidance, the staff continued to go the extra mile, demonstrating commitment and resilience. Through their efforts, they worked to rebuild trust and ensure that Badisa Tygerberg could continue its vital mission, honouring its 74-year legacy of service.
The period between 2013 and 2020 was characterised by a phase of intense implementation—straightening up, tidying up, and dreaming anew. By 2021, Badisa Tygerberg had embarked on a new trajectory, turning its fresh dreams into reality. The service demonstrated signs of sustainability with solid reserve funds and growth in service delivery. At that time, 13 social workers and five social support workers were actively supporting 1,071 families and 3,348 parents and children across all levels of service delivery.
In December 2021, Linda Awerbach took over the management functions from Reneé Pretorius. Under Linda’s leadership, the services continued to evolve, and by 2024, the office boasted an extensive strategy focused on awareness-raising, prevention, and service delivery. This strategy ensured that the legacy of Badisa Tygerberg could be passed on to the next generation, effectively addressing the growing challenges faced by the communities they serve. The organisation remains dedicated to strengthening family structures and ensuring that children are cared for and protected within a family context.
In 2024, Badisa Tygerberg had grown to include 24 staff members, comprising 14 social workers, six social support workers, and two supervisors. This dedicated team continues to serve the community with commitment and excellence, upholding the legacy and values of Badisa Tygerberg.
Two special milestones were born from the Tygerberg office between 2018 and 2023:
- Badisa’s current child protection model for service delivery
- Badisa’s Kuumba Care strategy
