SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT STRENGTHENS CARE AND PROTECTION OF OLDER PERSONS IN EERSTERUST

By Morapedi Sibeko

• The Department of Social Development is implementing a coordinated plan to safeguard the wellbeing, dignity and safety of older persons residing at Lodewyk P. Spies Home.
• Residents will be temporarily relocated to funded and registered residential care facilities while compliance matters, renovations and operational improvements are undertaken.
• The Department and the Board have committed to restoring the facility and positioning it as a centre of excellence for the care and protection of older persons.

The Department of Social Development (DSD), together with the Board and Management of Lodewyk P. Spies Home, conducted a monitoring visit and engagement session at the facility in Eersterust on 2 June 2026 as part of ongoing efforts to protect the rights, dignity and wellbeing of older persons.

The visit was led by Advocate Gugulethu Thimane, Acting Director-General of the National Department of Social Development, and Ms Phumla Sekhonyane, Head of Department of the Gauteng Department of Social Development. They were joined by departmental officials, board members and management representatives of the Home.

Lodewyk P. Spies Home currently accommodates 84 older persons and continues to provide essential residential care and support services to residents from Eersterust and surrounding communities. The facility has served the community for many years, with one employee having dedicated 34 years of service to the institution.

Following engagements and assessments conducted during the visit, the Department and the Board agreed on a series of immediate and medium-term interventions aimed at strengthening operations, improving compliance and enhancing the quality of care provided to residents.

As part of these interventions, the Gauteng Department of Social Development announced the temporary relocation of residents to funded and registered residential care facilities while operational challenges, compliance requirements and renovation work are addressed. The relocation process will be implemented with sensitivity and care to ensure the comfort, safety and continued wellbeing of all beneficiaries.

To minimise disruption and ensure continuity of care, suitable facilities have already been identified and secured by the Department. The Gauteng Department of Social Development is also working closely with relevant stakeholders, including the Department of Health, to ensure residents continue receiving the necessary care and support services throughout the transition period.

Medical assessments have already been conducted to ensure that the specific health needs of each resident are taken into account during the relocation process. Family members have also been informed of the developments. Where relatives have not yet been reached, the Department has recommended home visits to facilitate ongoing consultation, communication and support.

The Department acknowledged the progress made by the Board in addressing compliance requirements, particularly regarding the approval of building plans. The approval process remains a critical step towards obtaining a Health Certificate, which is an important compliance requirement and a key consideration for future funding.

Chairperson of the Board, Ms Ruth Lawrence, confirmed that work is already underway to address matters raised by the Gauteng Department of Social Development and to improve conditions at the facility.
The Department and the Board will also continue engaging with the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality on the outstanding lease agreement relating to the property. Resolving this matter is regarded as essential to the long-term sustainability and operational stability of the Home.

Recognising the important role the facility plays within the community, all parties agreed that the Home will undergo renovations and infrastructure improvements aimed at strengthening compliance, improving living conditions and enhancing the overall standard of care provided to residents.

A comprehensive and jointly coordinated relocation plan will guide both the temporary relocation of residents and their eventual return to the facility. The process will be managed in a manner that is organised, compassionate and focused on the best interests of beneficiaries.

Ms Lawrence further clarified that the task team previously referenced in certain discussions and communications was not officially constituted, mandated or recognised by either the Board of Directors or the Department of Social Development. As a result, any information, findings or recommendations attributed to the task team have not been independently verified or formally adopted by either party.

The Department of Social Development and the Board of Lodewyk P. Spies Home reaffirmed their commitment to working collaboratively to restore and strengthen the facility. Both parties remain focused on ensuring that the rights, dignity, safety and wellbeing of older persons remain at the centre of all interventions undertaken.