A R355 000 solar power system has considerably eased the crippling effects of utility billings for a
Sydenham, Durban, old-age home.
The system was donated by the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) in response to a
debilitating eThekwini Municipality electricity arrears charge of R350 000, which had left the
Stranraer Charitable Trust’s Stranraer House in dire financial straits.
Commenting on the recent official handover of the solar power system, SAMCT representative, Mr.
Gaff Osman, said: “I hope this new system will ease the financial burden associated with soaring
utility bills, whilst ensuring the peace of mind of residents.”
Stranraer House, an old-age residence operated by the Trust, has been an integral part of the
Sydenham community for the past 37 years, providing elderly women a dignified sanctuary in their
twilight years.
Mr. Osman said: “Unfortunately, for the past three years the facility has been running at a loss, the
consequence of upwardly spiralling utility costs, the increased overall cost of living due to the effects
of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the debilitating ramifications of decreased funding. This dire
situation has been further exacerbated by a crippling electricity arrears bill and resultant
disconnection.”
He said that the electricity disconnection had traumatized the facility’s very elderly residents and left
them ‘extremely unsettled’ given such a dramatic change this had brought to their otherwise wellordered lives.
“Sadly, increasing costs – especially those associated with utilities – are the order of the day in South
Africa and badly affect numerous charitable organizations; bodies led by vast numbers of selfless
people who are committed to improving the lives of the vulnerable and disadvantaged, no matter
the challenges, burdens, and setbacks.”
“These are people to be roundly applauded for the unstinting work they do in face of extremely
trying conditions and financial constraints. The staff of the Stranraer Charitable Trust is the epitome
of such people and, to their credit, they acted quickly and decisively to restore power to Stranraer
House by agreeing to a payment plan with eThekwini Municipality and implementing various costsaving initiatives in an effort to contain electricity consumption within the facility.”
Although cost-containment efforts proved successful, they proved insufficient to enable the
satisfactory settlement of the monthly arrears charge coupled with that of each month’s new bill.
“A radical solution was vitally necessary… and that solution lay in solar power! However, installing
solar power systems is an expensive proposition and one which was clearly going to be well beyond
the financial means of the Stranraer Charitable Trust – until now,” said Mr Osman.
Upon learning of the organization’s financial plight and in the interests of restoring a sense of dignity
and a return to a normal life for the home’s elderly residents, the SAMCT stepped in, covering the
R355 000 cost of installing a new solar power system at the facility, a move which has given effect to
a substantial reduction in grid-fed electricity and creating a monthly saving for the organization of
almost R10 000.
The SAMCT was created in 2008, the result of a partnership between Old Mutual Unit Trusts and Al
Baraka Bank, for the creation, marketing, and distribution of a suite of Shariah Funds.
This has ensured that the South African Muslim Charitable Trust is the beneficiary of this Shariah
suite of funds, enabling it to provide funding, services and other resources for the improvement of
the lives of the vulnerable, deprived and disadvantaged. It has been singularly successful in
delivering sizeable assistance solutions throughout South Africa – irrespective of race or religion –
and continues to work to support needy organizations in the fields of social development, poverty
alleviation, healthcare, and education.
“In view of this, the SAMCT was pleased to have been in a position to provide the means for the old
age home to better deal with its utility bill charges. I hope and trust that the solar power system
installed will make a significant difference to the monthly electricity billing and, indeed, to providing
greater comfort to the residents of Stranraer House now and into the future. As they navigate their
twilight years, they deserve every possible small comfort – including access to an uninterrupted
power supply,” Mr. Osman concluded.
For more information about SAMCT or its Stranraer Charitable Trust solar power system donation,
please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer
Tel: 084 506 2280
Email: samct@samct.co.za