Services sorely missed at Donovan McDonald

Outreach for the Aged (OFtA) is a charitable organisation that has made a massive difference in the lives of countless elderly people throughout Roodepoort, especially at the Donovan McDonald Old Age Centre for more than 10 years.

That is, until 2023 when they were unceremoniously ousted from the centre, where they have been operating and rendering critical services to the elderly residents — and the centre itself.

According to OFtA founder Fatima Solomon, she was approached by the then Roodepoort Care for the Aged in 2014, which at the time managed the centre.

“The agreement at the time was that we would refurbish the hall and other facilities at the centre, and we would be allowed to hire the hall out for events, using the funds generated from this to render services for the elderly residents,” she says.

“I jumped at the chance and spent nearly R500 000 of my own money on refurbishments and repairs during the time that we operated there.

“I co-ordinated events and used the income generated to provide extensive services to the residents.”

The centre provided services such as a qualified nurse aid, private ambulance services, hospital transport, preventative health checks, medical supplies, and arranging flu vaccines, prostate screenings, and Covid booster shots.

OFtA also provided hot meals to residents at least twice weekly and when budget allowed, more frequently, fresh bread at least once weekly, special snacks and treats as often as possible, and luncheons and entertainment events on Christmas, Mother’s Day and Easter.

“We also offered bereavement services to residents and their family members, and made the hall available for funerals and memorials for residents,” she adds.

“During Covid, we provided the residents of the centre with hot meals every day, and bread, milk, and vegetables twice per week. We also distributed vitamin packs, sanitisers, and masks, all to illuminate the need for residents to leave the centre and so potentially expose themselves to the disease.”

OFtA also worked closely with the Florida South Residents Association and the local Community Policing Forum, which would respond to any security-related incidents.

Solomon says that throughout their time at Donovan McDonald Old Age Centre, she continually pushed for the Department of Social Development (DSD) to formalise the agreement.

“I wanted a contract as I did not feel comfortable with the verbal agreement that was in place. First, the Roodepoort Care for the Aged, then the DSD and eventually the Department of Human Settlements – none of them were willing to put our agreement in writing.

In July 2023 they were informed by the then-acting director of the Department of Human Settlements, Zanele Malusi, that their services were no longer required, and that they should immediately vacate the premises.

“This came as a huge shock to us,” she says. “We tried in vain to get them to reconsider, but they were simply not interested. This led to us leaving in August of 2023.”

Despite no longer being stationed at the centre, and no longer earning an income from which to deliver services, Solomon, from her own pocket, continues to help residents of the centre. She still pays a full-time caregiver to help residents at the centre, and she regularly receives calls from residents for help with food, medical supplies, transport to and from the hospital, and much more.

“I am aware of certain politically aligned individuals who have done everything in their power to get us ousted from the centre. These, in my opinion, are people who do not want any services rendered at the centre if they do not somehow benefit from it.

“They claimed that we were enriching ourselves at the cost of the elderly residents, which is completely untrue as our services to the residents were, and remain, free of charge. The money generated from the events we held at the hall, was all used in providing services and feeding the residents.

“I am in no way politically aligned. My faith as a Muslim inspires me to care for my fellow man. I have grown to know and love the residents at the centre, and I consider this work my life’s calling.”

The Roodepoort Record spoke to numerous residents of the old age centre, who all confirmed that OFtA is sorely missed at the centre. Residents say they are now largely left to fend for themselves, except for the few services including the caregiver and the weekly meals that OFtA delivers at the centre.

The residents agree that Solomon and OFtA go over and above the call of duty for them and can not understand why they were ousted.

None of the residents were willing to go on record, stating that they feared retribution should they speak out.

The Record sent detailed questions to the Department of Human Settlements regarding the ousting of OFtA and other issues at the centre but only received confirmation that the department is pursuing legal action against illegal occupiers of units at the centre, with other questions remaining unanswered.