A Kensington, Western Cape, home for the aged’s non-compliant kitchen has been significantly upgraded and an electric perimeter fence installed for the safety and well-being of residents and staff, thanks to a recent R385 000 donation by the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT).
The Kensington Home for the Aged – whose operational costs are funded by the Department of Social Development – has long had to contend with sub-standard and dangerous kitchen facilities, whilst staff and residents have been traumatised by regular raids by unruly fence-jumpers intent on stealing water pipes and items from within the home. The home was established in 1971 and today serves almost 100 sub-economic older persons from surrounding communities.
Upon learning of the Kensington-based facility’s sub-standard kitchen and inadequate fencing, the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) immediately responded, sponsoring a major kitchen upgrade and installing a new electric fence around the entire property.
Commenting on its financial assistance, SAMCT representative, Mr Faried Boltman, said: “The home has long operated without the necessities of an oven and dishwasher, whilst pantry shelving was rusted and unsatisfactory for purpose. The kitchen floor was dangerously slippery, posing a daily risk to users, and simply did not comply with norms and standards.”
“In addition, the home has long faced a major security issue. It’s 20-year-old barbed wire perimeter fence has proven wholly inadequate with regard to protecting residents and staff from home invasions. Understandably, the organisation has had at its disposal only very limited funding for its day-to-day operations and has been singularly unable to finance such capital expenditure projects as kitchen and fencing upgrades. Accordingly, we, of the SAMCT, were extremely pleased to be in a position to address both these issues on behalf of the Kensington Home for the Aged.”
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. The organisation provides funding, services, and other resources to improve the lives of the vulnerable, deprived, and disadvantaged. It has successfully delivered sizeable assistance solutions throughout South Africa – irrespective of race or religion – and continues to work to support needy organisations in the fields of healthcare, social development, poverty alleviation, and education.
“The major kitchen overhaul we have funded has transformed by home’s ability to provide residents with quality food in a safe and easily accessible environment, whilst the new electric fence has restored a greatly increased sense of security, affording both staff and residents much-needed peace-of-mind,” Mr Boltman said.
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For more information about the SAMCT or its Kensington Home for the Aged’s Kitchen and Fence Upgrade donation, please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer
Tel: 084 506 2280
Email: samct@samct.co.za
www.samct.co.za