New facilities for Masikane Old Age Home and Community Centre officially opened

The Masikane Old Age Home and Community Centre (Masikane) proudly took ownership of a brand new Respite and Care facility for the elderly on Friday, 3 May 2019. The new building, which will provide shelter and palliative care for elderly people from the local community, was built at a cost of R4.3-million by the Sibaya Community Trust.

“The elderly are amongst the most marginalized in the society, especially in poorer communities where there are limited resources and little funding support for old age care centres. When we heard that the Masikane needed assistance with upgrading its old age care facility to comply with current standards, we wanted to help. The centre provides an essential and value adding service to its community. We wanted to ensure that it could continue to do so,” says Vivian Reddy, Chairman of the Sibaya Community Trust.

Masikane was established by the late Reverend Masikane and his wife who had a passion for the elderly and infirm in their rural community. After his passing, the organisation was formally registered as a non-profit organisation and run by nurses, a visiting GP and community health care workers. The facility has a license to accommodate 50 aged patients but the Department of Social Department requested that Masikane upgrade the facility to meet its current infrastructure and operational standards, as well as those of the Department of Health. Masikane needed to replace hospital beds and other equipment, as well as secure a second building to house those with communicable diseases like TB separately.

Work on the project commenced in 2017. Local contractors were responsible for the building works through the Imbumba Group and labourers were sourced from the local community. In addition to upgrading the old age facility, including furnishings, Sibaya Community Trust also fund the construction of admin offices for Masikane as well as a hall which can be rented out to generate income for the centre.

The Sibaya Community Trust, formerly known as the Afrisun KZN Community Development Trust, was formed in 1998 with the intention of being a catalyst for social development and philanthropy in the area in which it operates. The trust focuses on community upliftment projects in the EThekwini and ILembe districts, with an emphasis on health, social and community development, and education.

To date, the Trust has spent R50-million in Ilembe. Major projects have included; 11-million on the Matric Academic Development Initiative, R20-million in skills development programmes and R5-million in social and community development support. Over 170 organisations have benefited from the funds distributed by the Trust.