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Two of the worst of crimes today are gender-based violence and human trafficking. The victims, especially of domestic abuse, come to us broken and dehumanised. Their fight back to having a normal life is a long and massive struggle. Bonisiwe Mbatha is the social worker in our Gender Justice Office, and she reports that abuse… READ MORE…
Our families, those we love most, are the most important people in all our lives. And that’s why we take our responsibility towards them very seriously. Seriously enough to make a Will and keep it updated, ensuring that our love and care for them continues beyond our own lifetime. Surprisingly, there are many people who… READ MORE…
Whilst many people will spring to help a child in trouble, the elderly are often forgotten and neglected in their final years. But not by The Salvation Army, or by you in supporting our old age homes. In Emmarentia we have the Eventide Home which was opened in 1976. Talk to those for whom Eventide… READ MORE…
It’s said that it takes a village to raise a child. And this year, National Child Protection Week was launched on a territorial level. All staff, officers, and the Mission Team gathered together to reflect on the significance of protecting children under the theme of ‘Working together to end Violence against children’. We know that… READ MORE…
The queues for help are always long and patient, a mixture of single men, young and old; women with young children; and sadly, even children without guardians or parents. Clothing is worn out and threadbare – no warm jackets, scarves, socks or beanies. Women with bare legs and feet in broken sandals. Fatima (39) had… READ MORE…
Every plate of food that you’ve helped to provide this winter has given warmth and hope, but also more. Across the Territory our Corps and Centres combined food distribution with longer term empowerment projects. Our Orlando Corps supported their existing sewing project and also distributed clothing In Galeshewe, vulnerable families received food parcels, and school… READ MORE…
The early part of a new year is a good time to review our ‘affairs’ to ensure that they are all in order and up to date. Your Will is one of the most important documents that you should review, because it’s remarkable how aspects of life can change which may impact on the decisions… READ MORE…
The location in Doornfontein qualifies for the word ‘dodgy’. The building is old and in need of much repair but is spotlessly clean. In the loving and dedicated care of Captain Nonkosazana Memani and her faithful team, these are some of the ‘special’ children who live there. Mbeki* was delivered under the M1 bridge where… READ MORE…
You deserve to know that your end of year kindness made the day real in the disadvantaged communities you helped us serve. The Christmas campaign began in Braamfontein where 235 people received a warm nourishing meal. Officers and volunteers spent time chatting with those who lined up hearing the many heart-rending stories and sharing a… READ MORE…
We asked you to help us get our rural children in several provinces back to school in January. Not just ‘back to school or starting school’ but equipped to do so. ‘Thank you’ for giving so generously to make this happen. Your ‘back to school’ gifts allowed our territorial leaders to head up the campaign… READ MORE…
In this issue of your Spring Reporter, we shine the light on the young and the elderly that your support brings into our care. The young and the old are often seen as the most vulnerable in our society due to their forms of dependence on others. And it’s a sadness that both the young… READ MORE…
We asked, and you gave – to ensure that our elderly weren’t overlooked this winter. Thank you! To thank you, please share this virtual visit to three of our care homes for the aged where your kindness is at work. In Mofolo, a mostly run down but bustling suburb in the heart of Soweto, Ephraim… READ MORE…
For all of us, a time will come when we no longer need our assets to provide for ourselves. And this is the reason to have a Will, so that we can continue to care about others. Our loved ones are our first concern. And if there’s something to spare, continuing to support a charity… READ MORE…
This Pietermaritzburg Care Centre is already filled with the warmth of love, but some extra warmth was recently delivered in the form of beautifully hand-knitted jerseys and beanies. These were lovingly made gifts from the ‘knitting ladies’ at the Riverside Manor Retirement Estate and Bryanston Sports Club Bowls Section. And all the items were received… READ MORE…
Winter is our busiest time of year when the bitter weather adds to all the other hardships of poverty. Sometimes there’s the impression that we only work in the major cities – which we do – but the remote rural areas are often where the most help is needed. And our 159 Corps work everywhere… READ MORE…
The devastation of fire can begin with a tiny spark or a small flame which gathers momentum and races into a runaway fire. The flames quickly eat up the fuel around them and hungrily move on. This is what happened in the Selby community in January, where the fire wrought total destruction. All that remained… READ MORE…
Now – during our lifetime we gather much along the way. Some of it can’t be seen, like our values, our wisdom and our expertise in living life. Once our life is over, these aspects of our life are held and treasured in memory by our loved ones, and others who knew us. But what… READ MORE…
No sooner was Christmas over, when parents everywhere started to feel the anxiety of ‘back to school’, and the costs of that – especially in disadvantaged communities. We understand that, and are committed to removing some of the barriers to ‘back to school’ for families who simply cannot afford the basic requirements including a school… READ MORE…
Manenberg in the Western Cape is a place where substance abuse and gang violence are daily realities for many. It’s also a community suffering from poverty, where the majority of people exist on social grants and pensions. Christmas Day for most families there was a question mark. There was no certainty of even some food… READ MORE…
This year, we are excited to launch the ‘Proudly Salvationist’ campaign, a heartfelt initiative that celebrates and promotes the core values, rich history, and vital mission of The Salvation Army. We invite you, our loyal and valued supporters, to join us in this campaign and make a difference. The Salvation Army is dedicated to saving… READ MORE…
The sadness of Christmas for many elderly people is in having limited or no family contact. They feel forgotten, unwanted, and invisible. But one of the places where your Christmas generosity changed that was the Imbali Old Age Home in Pietermaritzburg. Your kindness allowed us to organize a special Christmas meal, with residents coming together… READ MORE…
All avenues closed for Jackie* and her two sons, Timothy* (9), and Michael* (7). From being a happy family, life changed in the instant that Jackie’s husband, John, was killed in a car accident. Jackie became the sole breadwinner – and then she was retrenched. They managed to survive for four months until they hit… READ MORE…
Often called ‘the forgotten province’ people in the Eastern Cape are frequently the last to receive help in times of need. Thanks to friends like you who make it possible, we recently distributed food parcels to homeless individuals in Gqeberha. And in East London, a helping hand was given to over 50 homeless individuals as… READ MORE…
There was great excitement at Johannesburg City Corps on 28 February 2024 as 13 ladies graduated from the sewing classes held over the last five months. Graduates had received training in pattern making, general sewing skills, designing and creating an item of clothing, and some basics in future business management. Finished garments were modelled, certificates… READ MORE…
Your response of love and support to our Winter Warmth Drive this year meant that hot nutritious meals and a warm welcome brought much needed comfort to the lines of people who queued up at our churches and headquarters. The distribution of clothes and blankets has also been a gratefully received extra. In the worst… READ MORE…
Every gift you send to keep our Salvation Army programmes running is precious in the reality of giving help to others ‘today’. And you can never be thanked enough for each one of them. But there’s another gift that you might want to consider at some stage. It’s a gift that costs you nothing now.… READ MORE…
There are countries in the world where a tornado can be part of the regular weather pattern. But South Africa isn’t one of those countries. So when a tornado ripped through Tongaat in KwaZulu-Natal on 3 June, it caught everyone off guard. A survivor described the event: “It was a terrifying experience! The sky was… READ MORE…
Seeing from here”, is often disturbing and challenging for me. It’s disturbing, because I see the level of need that exists in our country, in our communities, and in the hidden places where people have lost everything and given up all hope. It’s challenging, because I know that much more needs to be done. And… READ MORE…
Do you remember being a young person? We’ve no doubt that you were filled with hopes for your future. Perhaps you even had ambitions to change the world? You were at the threshold of your adult life. Sadly today, in an environment of no employment for our young people, those hopes and dreams die. Sometimes… READ MORE…
Amidst the joy and warmth of the Christmas celebrations for many families, others found themselves grappling with profound grief and unimaginable loss. Again, KZN was the scene of floods. And your partnership helped us step in to offer assistance alongside the rescue teams to provide support to those who were affected. Amongst these was a… READ MORE…
It’s said that giving makes us happier people. We hope that you experience this to be true each time you give to help others through our services. Part of the wonder of giving is that it’s universal whether it’s part of your practice in a faith, stems from your humanitarian concern, or is a personal… READ MORE…
The original of what is now The Booth Memorial Hospital in Cape Town opened its doors on Monday 28 May 1917. During its time as a maternity unit, 27 000 babies were born there. Then for a number of years, the hospital was a long-term frail age facility. And it was finally re-opened as a… READ MORE…
In everyday terms, a legacy or a bequest is a gift of money or another item of some worth left to a beneficiary in one’s Will. But a real legacy is much more than that. A real legacy is what can also be called an ethical or spiritual legacy. It’s the way in which you… READ MORE…
“I’m not forgotten.” These were the words of Joseph, as he received the Christmas meal and small gift, provided by donations like yours. They were Joseph’s words, but the sentiment was there in every heart as homeless men, women and children gathered at our Salvation Army Churches and centres across the country. Gratitude for being… READ MORE…
The South African Timeline 24 February 1883 – ‘The Army of Three’ arrived in Cape Town on the Warwick Castle, to lay the foundations of work in South Africa. They were young Majors Francis and Rose Simmonds, and Lieutenant Alice Teager. 4 March 1883 – The first meeting is held in the Drill Hall in… READ MORE…
Words from our founder William Booth, the visionary founder of Salvation Army in 1865, will always be remembered by these inspiring words: ‘While women weep, as they do now,I’ll fightWhile little children go hungry, as they do now,I’ll fightWhile men go to prison, in and out, as they do now,I’ll fightWhile there is a drunkard… READ MORE…
And every single way is appreciated more than you can know. But there’s also a way of helping which costs you nothing now. This way is a promise to the future, which can be changed at any time – by including The Salvation Army as a beneficiary in your Will. First and foremost, your Will… READ MORE…
Bonteheuwel Nursery School In the heart of the Cape Flats, Major Marlene Butler, and principal, Mavis Lee run a tight but tender ship. Children from the community aged 18 months up to Grade R (six years old) start arriving from 6.45am Monday to Friday. There are five classes catering for 98 children. Life is difficult… READ MORE…
Going back to the very beginning, it was in 1865 in the east end of London UK, that William Booth a fiery Methodist minister, made a decision. He could no longer preach the Christian Gospel to people who were suffering without also addressing their suffering. He abandoned the comfort of his pulpit to take his… READ MORE…
Childcare Nancy came to our Joseph Baynes Home for Children in Pietermaritzburg when she was just six years old. Nurtured and cared for into adulthood, Nancy is now Captain Nancy Ndlovu, married to a Salvation Army Officer, and caring for others. This is how your gifts work, often taking people’s lives full circle. Noeleen’s* horror… READ MORE…
Feeding in Braamfontein. In the icy winter wind, three women sit on a concrete bench, each warming their hands around a cup of hot soup. Pretty, Nosiphiwe, Porcha and Ntombi all tell the same sad story of being homeless and sleeping under bridges, in doorways and on park benches. Even with experience none of them… READ MORE…
2023 Is a landmark year in which, thanks to the compassionate generosity of valued supporters and friends like you, The Salvation Army celebrates 140 years of serving the people of Southern Africa. We are deeply and sincerely grateful for your partnership and your constancy in making real differences in the lives of our fellow citizens… READ MORE…
It’s important for us to recognise your generosity by providing you with your Section 18A tax certificate so that you can claim some benefit from your donations. It’s therefore important for you to know that changes to the Non-Profit Act now require a donor’s tax number (if available) and ID number to be on the… READ MORE…
We say a fond farewell to Major Velani Buthelezi as he takes up his new appointment as Divisional Commander for the Northern KZN Division. Major Buthelezi has been our Public Relations Officer and editor for the Reporter for the past three years. We wish him well in his new appointment. And we extend a warm… READ MORE…
Carl Sithole Children’s Home is a haven of safety and peace. The 87 children aged between three and 18 years here come into our care through the Courts and Child Welfare. Sadly, they are generally orphaned, neglected, abused or abandoned. Some are HIV positive. For many, this is the first time they have a place… READ MORE…
This scene at Johannesburg City Corps could be one of any Salvation Army Centres in towns and cities across the country – thanks to the kindness of friends like you. Christmas on the street! Where is the joy of the day? On Christmas morning last year, an early line of men, women and children (mostly… READ MORE…
With the relaxation of the summer holidays over, January brought a flurry of preparations for ‘back to school’ at our Joseph Baynes Children’s home in Pentrich, Pietermaritzburg. School uniforms have had to be organised, together with stationery for 55 children. And based on our 100% pass rate for the last two years, it’s been a… READ MORE…
Most people have quickly forgotten about the floods that destroyed great parts of KwaZulu Natal in 2022 – except those who experienced the loss and devastation, and its aftermath. Besides the damage to infrastructures including roads, health care, schools and communication, over 12 000 homes were destroyed. Tragically, 448 people died, and 40 000 others… READ MORE…
I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to our Public Relations Department this year. This comes at a time when a lot has changed due to the increasing number of challenges our society is facing – unemployment, load shedding, and the ever-rising cost of living. And the Church is not immune to those challenges. Despite… READ MORE…
One of Nelson Mandela’s most pertinent quotes was: “Our children are our greatest treasure. They are our future. Those who abuse them tear at the fabric of our society and weaken our nation.” “This year’s Child Protection Week was supported by many events throughout the country, the main theme of the events was to highlight… READ MORE…
Around midnight, fire broke out in the Kwa Mai Mai informal settlement in downtown Johannesburg on Sunday, June 12, killing one person and leaving many injured, and hundreds of residents homeless. The cause of the blaze is unclear. Within hours more than 400 shacks were burnt to the ground. Victims watched helplessly as the fire… READ MORE…
Exquisite hand-knitted jerseys and beanies presented to the Ethembeni Children’s Home, were so special one felt they could have been inspired by top fashion couturiers. They were lovingly made by the ‘knitting’ ladies at Riverside Manor Retirement Estate and the Bryanston Sports Club Bowls Section, says Major Bongi Zulu administrator at Ethembeni. This has been… READ MORE…
It’s Sunday morning and there’s an excited buzz at the Krugersdorp Family Mission Centre, as the residents and staff lay out tables and chairs in the garden and staff in the kitchen are hard at work preparing hot dogs and bacon and egg rolls. Then, suddenly all you can hear is the revs from 150… READ MORE…
In April and May this year, deep in the night, the heavens opened up and unleashed the most vicious storms in KwaZulu-Natal, storms that not only ravished homes, washed away infrastructure, and worst of all took lives. Awakening to this massively destructive noise made the shock of the event even more devastating. Rushing floodwaters not… READ MORE…
Last year Lindiwe Ngcobo* matriculated with three distinctions, thrilling “Daddy” Owen, formally known as Lt. Owen Mutize. After quite a short time at Carl Sithole he endeared himself so much to the kids, so desperate for a family, that they started referring to him as Daddy. This is how “our children” think of Salvation Army… READ MORE…
Elizabeth* came to Joseph Baynes Children’s home in Pietermaritzburg as an orphan of just two years old. A happy and cheery child, she always excelled at school and it was no surprise when she passed matric last year with a university entrance. She is now at Pretoria University doing a three-year degree in Creative Arts.… READ MORE…
There’s a saying that’s attributed to some long-ago movie star “Old age is not for sissies!” Yet, in this day and age the challenges that face the young, who’ve come through massively disadvantaged backgrounds, are terror-filled. Nobody understands these more than The Salvation Army who have nurtured many such young people throughout their lives. Our… READ MORE…
Passionate and enthusiastic, Lt. Owen believes everyone is born with hope and a need to make a difference, sadly this hope is too often crippled in life by lack of opportunity. The Salvation Army has an excellent reputation for giving our children the kind of caring and attention that makes them excel. Of course, this… READ MORE…
There is no worse crime than gender-based violence and human trafficking. The Salvation Army is shouldering responsibility of rebuilding lives at our facility at Beth Shan in Pretoria. The stories are so horrific it even takes guts to read them. The victims, especially of domestic abuse, come to us broken, dehumanised and their fight back… READ MORE…
In White City, Jabavu, in the heart of Soweto is a gem of love and happiness known as the Bridgman Crèche. It caters for 50 toddlers aged from one to five years. Each weekday it’s alive with the excited babble of the learners who are divided into three classes – for one to two year… READ MORE…
I cannot stress how important a good, strong and loving family unit is. The most successful families always do best when the head of the family is a strong and loving man. A ‘real man’ does not bully, he does not belittle, and he never hits a woman or child nor does he abuse an… READ MORE…
The Salvation Army Family Mission Centre in Krugersdorp is making astonishing differences to people who are on the verge of despair. This centre offers a home to families who are really facing major difficulties – a room and three meals a day per person at an incredibly inexpensive rate. We can take up to 55… READ MORE…
The heartbeat of 80/156 broken hearts, now joined in a joyous reach for a good life, creates a symphony that vibrates through the Carl Sithole Centre in Klipspruit, Soweto. It was named after this Major of The Salvation Army who devoted his life to bettering the lives of young people and so help them rise… READ MORE…
When the Cape’s forest fires get out of hand in a blaze, the sight is spectacular. When the blaze in the informal settlement of Masiphumelele, near FishHoek, took hold before Christmas it was terrifying. There can be few experiences worse than seeing your entire life go up in flames. Frightened and helpless, residents watched as… READ MORE…
Lisa* was a lovely young mother of three when a gang of males decided to have their ‘fun’ with her and set about raping her for what seemed like hours. Her tears and screams did not stop them from continuing to have their enjoyment. Inevitably their crime resulted in a pregnancy. Nine months later Precious*… READ MORE…
It was glorious, warm Highveld weather − perfect to celebrate Mandela Day. There was a sense of excitement as tables were brought to the front of our Salvation Army headquarters in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Then Karina Haynes and her friendly staff arrived from the Parktonian Hotel (our neighbour) with two enormous, piping hot pots of soup… READ MORE…
The trip into the heart of Northern KZN takes you through some glorious scenery – the majestic Amajuba Mountains, carpeted with pink, mauve and white Cosmos as Easter approaches, through flatter, once-rich, coal mining areas into Vryheid. Then deep into the sparsely populated, undeveloped really rural Zululand, steeped in centuries-old traditions and today’s scourge –… READ MORE…
When a mother and her kids have been through the trauma of abuse, and are still in a state of shock and fear, when even a slightly raised voice can turn them into quivering wrecks, their transformation when they come to Carehaven is almost miraculous. At this Salvation Army shelter for abused women and their… READ MORE…
That’s a pretty sharp description of The Salvation Army Montpelier Corps (church) in Durban − a hive of non-stop activity, helping an unceasing flood of humanity desperately in need of care and assistance. At 6:45a.m. it’s as if a hot, wet blanket’s been wrapped around you, it’s already that hot and humid in Durban… READ MORE…
The viciousness of the fires that ravaged the Eastern and Western Cape this winter brought to mind the fury of the flames of hell. Some victims described to us how they watched, helplessly, as 50-foot high flames (15 m) marched inexorably onto their properties, their precious homes, at relentless speed, devouring and killing everything in… READ MORE…
THE TRAGEDY OF ORPHANS WITH NO ONE TO CARE Set among rolling hills and valleys and majestic forests is our Northern KwaZulu-Natal Division. Yet beneath the beauty of this countryside, with its picturesque thatched kraals dotting the landscape, lies a community that is plagued by poverty and the devastation to family life wrought by diseases… READ MORE…
WHERE WOMEN RECOVER FROM THE UNSPEAKABLE When you hear the stories that come out of Beth Shan, a Salvation Army protective home for abused and trafficked women, it’s difficult to believe that this is happening today … that this is what so-called human beings are doing to women, adults and children. Here they come to… READ MORE…
‘Good Samaritans’ purvey evil This sickening story, related to a Salvation Army worker by a victim and ultimate survivor of human trafficking, proves that this abomination of mankind is flourishing in South Africa. Jenny* and her friend Fiona* set off for a long weekend, full of fun and laughter. The sky was blue, cattle grazed… READ MORE…
The harsh reality behind the glamour The ladies of the night. What a charming euphemism to describe the women in the world’s oldest profession, hinting at glamour and romance. But the reality of prostitution is sad – and sordid. So what was I, Major Carin Holmes, doing mingling with these women on this dark, cold… READ MORE…
Recent activities have turned the popular perception of The Salvation Army on its head. Last year we shocked South Africa by taking a stall at a Johannesburg ‘Sexpo’ to highlight our work against human trafficking. We made a fantastic impression – and garnered a lot of support! READ MORE…
The kids from Flamingo Park, the informal settlement in Claremont, Cape Town, come from pretty tough backgrounds. Parents are invariably drug or alcohol addicts – and there’s no other social support. READ MORE…
It’s a Saturday in Gauteng, the rain is belting down and there seems no let up. At lunch time my cellphone rings: it’s Major Tersia Finn at the Krugersdorp Family Mission Care Centre. “I doubt if it will be worth coming to the Kids’ Club today”, she says, “the rain is bound to put them off”. READ MORE…
It’s five a.m, starting to get light, wake-up time for school-goers at the Joseph Baynes Children’s Home in Pentrich, Pietermaritzburg. A scramble to wash faces, brush teeth, get dressed, make it to breakfast – nourishing oats and milk – by 5.45. The kids grab their sandwich and juice lunch-pack and rush for the buses that leave at 6:30 sharp to head for the 16 local schools. READ MORE…
Altough The Salvation Army has been in Swaziland for 25 years, it seems to be a fairly well-kept secret, so we’d like to introduce ourselves formally. The name is, of course, well known but all the activities with which we are involved, here in Swaziland, are not common knowledge. READ MORE…
Click here to download our Spring 2012 Edition of The Reporter. READ MORE…
Click here to download our Autumn 2012 Edition of The Reporter. READ MORE…
It’s Mandela Day and the excitement is almost palpable at Diepkloof Combined School in the Diepkloof township and informal settlement west of Johannesburg. It’s a fact that many children living in Diepkloof come to school on an empty stomach, and have no food to eat at lunchtime. READ MORE…
She picks up the tiny mite crying in her cot. She holds her tenderly, rocking backwards and forwards till the crying becomes a whimper, then stops altogether. In a warm, spontaneous gesture, her cheek rests gently on the baby’s head and she quietly speaks the baby’s name. READ MORE…
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