Written by Magaret Olivier
RSS was founded on 22 July 1988, thanks to the initiative of the Dutch Reformed congregations in Ruyterwacht and Goodwood. At the inaugural meeting, approximately 40 members joined the centre. Initially, the Bellville service centre served as the parent body, managing finances until 1996 when RSS became an independent entity. CMR Parow also played a crucial role in the centre’s management, with Monica Marais and Carol Goosen leading the efforts in the beginning.
From its inception, RSS welcomed all individuals over the age of 60, regardless of race, gender, church denomination, or income group. The centre primarily serves the areas of Ruyterwacht, Thornton, and Matroosfontein.
In 1989, Mrs. A. Serfontein was appointed as the organiser, and under her leadership, membership quickly grew to 139. Transport has always been a significant aspect of service delivery, and in 1990, a red second-hand combi was purchased to assist with this need.
The following services have been offered since the centre’s early days:
- Laundry and linen service
- Meal delivery to infirm members
- Soup kitchen for the wider community on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
- Health services, including blood pressure and diabetes clinics
- A clothing store, which has been a part of the centre since the beginning
Leadership and Growth of RSS: Overcoming Challenges and Expanding Services
Mrs. Serfontein retired on 31 March 1999 and was succeeded by Mrs. K. van Dalen on 1 April 1999, who served until the end of September 2000. Following her tenure, Mrs. Nel, the pastor’s wife of the Dutch Reformed Church Monte Vista, took over as the organiser until 2004, when Ms. Annette Bekker assumed the position.
In 2000, an independent Governing Board was established to oversee the centre, which then had 98 members. By 2003, the current parent body, Badisa, was formed, and the centre began operating as a Badisa program. That same year, the Department of Social Development started subsidising the centre, providing a subsidy for 80 individuals amounting to R75,120. Membership at that time increased to 120.
The centre experienced significant growth starting in 2004. By 2006, it moved from the Dutch Reformed Church to the Florida School of Skills in Texel Street. It became evident that the centre was a crucial part of community services in Ruyterwacht, highlighting the urgent need for a permanent facility. By 2009, membership had flourished to 277 members.
Due to the logistical challenges of sharing the school hall and a small outbuilding with the school, the management and Governing Board urgently began seeking alternative facilities for the centre. Various options, including other school halls, church halls, the Zerilda Steynsaal, and purchasing land for a new hall, were explored but proved unfeasible or unsuitable.
The most viable solution emerged as acquiring the building at Grensstraat 62A, Ruyterwacht, which was then used by the Department of Sport and Culture. This initiated a lengthy and challenging negotiation process with the Provincial Government and the Departments of Sport and Culture, Public Works and Transport, and Social Development. Little did we know the long and arduous journey that lay ahead to secure this solution!
Overcoming Adversity
In early 2010, the management of Florida School informed the Centre that due to school expansions, they could no longer accommodate us. This left the Centre homeless and in a vulnerable position, struggling to provide services. Once again, we found ourselves searching for a new location. De Waveren Primary School came to our rescue, offering their school hall and unused woodwork rooms. We moved in and soon established ourselves, aided by three shipping containers to help deliver services. The headmaster was kind, and the elderly and young coexisted harmoniously, creating many beautiful memories through sports days, fun walks, concerts, and bazaars. By 2016, our membership had grown to 300.
However, in 2017, the school informed us that we needed to vacate by the end of May as they wanted to use the woodworking rooms for an aftercare centre. Knowing how difficult it would be to find another alternative, we were fortunate when the local AFM church offered us the use of their hall. Despite the space being completely inadequate, we had no choice but to accept. We managed to continue serving our members, setting up a newly purchased house in Bredastraat as the office and operating from two buildings. This challenging time also brought wonderful experiences, as we held dances and cheered for the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup.
Meanwhile, negotiations for the Grensstraat building continued. We even welcomed the then Prime Minister of the Western Cape, Ms. Helen Zille, to show her our work and the conditions we faced. Our efforts paid off when she announced that the building in Grensstraat would become ours.
Little did we know what awaited us in the world!
In March 2020, the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, and we all found ourselves confined to our homes. The Centre had to suspend all gatherings to protect our vulnerable older members, staff, and volunteers. To support our members during the strict lockdown, we provided food parcels in the initial phase. As restrictions eased slightly, our dedicated staff returned to work and delivered meals to all our members’ homes twice a week. Their commitment during this difficult time was remarkable—they prioritised our members’ needs despite the uncertainties.
Then came the joyful news: we could move into the Grensstraat building in October 2020! However, the move wasn’t straightforward. The building required significant repairs and renovations, and Covid-19 restrictions added to the challenges. Initially, we had to share the space with the staff from the Department of Sport and Culture, complicating our full move-in process. Nevertheless, we persevered. Amidst building contractors, painters, yard services, boxes, and security issues, we continued delivering meals to our members and planned for the day we could fully reopen.
By 2023, our membership had grown back to its pre-pandemic levels, reflecting the resilience and dedication of our community.
Affordable Housing for Older Persons
Providing affordable housing for older persons in need has always been a cornerstone of our service delivery. The journey began in June 2004 with the acquisition of two boarding houses rented from Communicare, located on Sakabula Street and Drommedaris Street. In 2010, the Centre purchased a house on Shilling Street with its own funds. This was followed by the acquisition of a house on Texel Street in 2012, thanks to the Care Trust of the Dutch Reformed Church Stellenberg, and another house on Voortrekker Street in 2016 through the same trust. In 2018, a generous donor enabled us to buy a house on Bredastraat.
Currently, 30 residents live in these six houses, all managed by the Centre. Despite the challenges we have faced, we firmly believe that God has always provided for us, and we remain optimistic about a bright future as we continue to rely on His promises.
The heart of the Centre is its members and their needs. As long as our members remain faithful and find joy and fulfillment here, the Centre will thrive.
