Resource Directory SAMPLE pages flip-book

southafricanCONVERSATiONS 

RESOURCE DiRECTORY 

ANIMAL WELFARE 

Child Welfare 

CIVIL SOCIETY 

Crime & Justice 

Sample 

Pages 

CRISIS SUPPORT 

Disability 

EDUCATION 

Employment Solutions 

& Sustainable Livelihoods 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP 

Food Growing 

FOOD, HUNGER & NUTRITION 

Gender & Violence Issues 

HEALTH 

Human Rights 

LABOUR MATTERS 

Land, Housing & Essential Services 

LGBTQI+ 

Photo | Chris Kirchhoff | mediaclubsouthafrica.co.za 

MEN & BOYS 

MENTAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH 

Migrants & Refugees 

SENIOR CITIZENS 

Social Welfare 

& Humanitarian Support 

SUBSTANCE ABUSE & ADDICTION 

Women & Family 

YOUTH 

A toolbox for individuals, families, communities, businesses and policy-makers 

to help us create the kind of world we all want to live in.

Can’t afford to advertise your non-profit 

anywhere but online? 

The majority of people who would benefit most from what you have to offer 

do not have sustained access to the Internet. 

So why advertise there? 

Photo | Tshikululu Social Investments | www.tshikululu.org.za 

Courtesy of Anglo American Chairman’s Fund 

Scan the QR code to book or update your listing in the next 

edition of the directory. Non-commercial listings are free. 

Or go to www.southafricanconversations.co.za/resource-directory 

and scroll to the bottom of the page for a Listing Request form. 

southafrican 

CONVERSATiONS 

www.southafricanconversations.co.za/directory | 0860 333 034

| 1 

– Christophe Deloire 

Why print in the age of the Internet? 

Want to know something – anything? Google it. From relief for ulcers 

to how to handle a job interview, everything you could possibly want 

to know is at your fingertips, online. 

Knowledge is power. Those who can afford it and know how to access 

this 21st-century privilege have a distinct advantage when it comes 

to exploring opportunities, developing their potential and finding 

solutions to problems. 

Unfortunately, a significant portion of our population still lacks access 

to the internet – despite the widespread use of smartphones in 

South Africa. During the Covid-19 pandemic, approximately 40% of 

South Africans did not use the internet at all. This number has now 

decreased to around 30%, as more people are able to connect at 

work and shopping centres. 

The sad reality is that the majority of our citizens do not have 

meaningful access to the internet in their homes because of high 

data costs, poor reception and limited electricity – especially in rural 

and underprivileged areas. 

With the knowledge of the world increasingly moving online, access 

to information is going to become the biggest source of inequality in 

South Africa. 

The South African Conversations Resource Directory offers a solution 

to this problem by making life-changing information available to all 

South Africans, bridging the gap between online and offline worlds. 

The book is particularly useful for those who serve society: social 

workers, teachers, preachers, health care workers, police, and more. 

With this resource, everyone can have access to the knowledge they 

need to succeed, no matter where they live or what their economic 

situation may be. 

ISBN | 978 0 620 93765 8 

Publisher | 

South African Conversations (Pty) Ltd 

A majority black-owned micro-enterprise 

Registration no: 2018 / 605841 / 07 

www.southafricanconversations.co.za 

t. 021 300 0547 | 0860 333 034 

e. talk.to.us@ 

southafricanconversations.co.za 

Postnet Suite 72, Private Bag X7, 

Muizenberg 7945, Western Cape, SA 

First edition | March 2023 

Editor | Therésa Müller 

Intern researchers | Eva Chipa | 

Kungu Mabasa | Lethubuhle Dube | 

Mokgadi Mamaleka | Sithembiso Ngobese 

Research & proofreading | Keneilwe 

Tseko | Mauritz Müller | Therésa 

Müller | Wendy Wethmar 

Proofreading | Bronwyn Paxton | George 

Dor | Mirna Lawrence | Marthe Muller 

Layout & design | Therésa Müller 

Pre-press | Wendy Wethmar 

Printing | Novus Print 

Copyright © Theresa Müller 

Important disclaimer | Information 

was gathered with great care from multiple 

sources on the internet and is provided 

‘as is’ with no guarantee of accuracy or 

usefulness, nor does inclusion in this book 

signify endorsement. Neither South African 

Conversations nor its employees can be 

held responsible for readers’ use of any of it. 

Unless otherwise indicated, all photographs 

are used as works of art and do not 

represent individuals or real situations in 

the accompanying articles. 

Order your copy of the book by scanning 

the QR code with your smartphone 

camera/Google Lens or QR Code Reader 

P.S. This is the first edition of our Resource Directory. There may be oversights, 

inaccuracies, and incorrectly categorised information. Kindly notify us if you find 

any errors or omissions so that we can correct them for the next edition which, 

by the way, will also include sections on Ancient & Traditional Knowledge, Cyber 

Safety and the Environment. 

P.P.S. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Rusty Sivils, an American friend 

without whose support South African Conversations would not have weathered the 

pandemic and this book would not exist. Deep gratitude, too, for the support of Jyothish 

Namboori, Marthe Muller, Lidia Pretorius, Laura Bergh, Elsbeth Dixon, numerous 

friends and various long-suffering family members, as well as the many customers and 

suppliers who believed and trusted that we will deliver. 

Or go to www.southafricanconversations. 

co.za/resource-directory and scroll to the 

bottom of the page for an order form. 

Suggested retail price | R375 / copy.

4 | southafrican CONVERSATiONS resourcedirectory 

ENDORSEMENTS 

This is a welcome and muchneeded 

resource for South 

Africa. It contains information 

that makes it possible for 

anyone to find what they need 

to improve their lives. 

It is useful for those with no 

access to the internet or with 

no data, and for those who 

work to assist people. 

It is very informative, easy to 

use and a powerful guide to 

critical solutions to problems 

we experience as South 

Africans. 

An astonishing publication 

that radiates the thought, 

love and passion which have 

gone into it. 

– Dave Wilson, CEO and 

Co-founder of the National 

Mentorship Movement 

It is my wish that every 

home could have access to 

this amazing labour of love. 

– Rev Theo Mayekiso 

Author of Being Black A South 

African Story that Matters 

The book is spectacular. 

It reminds me of the story of 

Prometheus – the one who stole 

the light from Zeus to give to 

humankind! 

– Buntu Billie 

This masterpiece of a resource 

should be available in every 

home, every village, school, 

company and institution in 

South Africa. It is an amazing 

resource to aid our individual and 

collective development. 

– Dr Meshack Khosa, CEO, Fresh 

Thinking Capital 

Here's what people say about the book. 

This book should be in every 

school, every police station, 

every clinic, community library, 

community centre, community 

radio station, and in every 

Government Department that 

interacts with the people of 

South Africa. 

In fact, it should be in every 

home that doesn’t have access 

to the internet ... It’s like having 

access to Google, but in print 

and tailor-made for South 

Africa. 

It complements Government 

efforts [and] helps protect every 

citizen’s right to information and 

gives meaning to the principle 

that ‘working together we can do 

more’. 

– Lumko Mtimde, Former Special 

Advisor to the Minister in the 

Presidency, Republic of South Africa 

It is unique, highly 

educational and relevant 

to the African majority 

who do not have access to 

information and resources. 

This directory must reach the 

length and breadth of our 

country. 

– Moshe Lecheko 

This directory provides 

access, ideas and direction 

to South Africans across 

careers, professions, income 

and education levels. It is 

an absolute must have for 

every South African – not 

only those without access to 

the internet. 

– Ali Engelbrecht, Former CEO, 

Women in Business 

Despite its packed pages, this 

is not a book of cold facts; it 

is permeated with a sense of 

nurturance and genuine care ... 

to purposefully and practically 

bring an end to hunger, poor 

health, malnutrition, poverty 

and discrimination. 

– Mirna Lawrence, Writer & Educator 

Insanely detailed and meticulous. 

– Karen Brokensha, The Domino 

Foundation 

This publication is so needed for 

South Africa, especially for those 

in rural and township areas 

where connectivity is an issue … 

– Linda Morrison, MD, We are Durban 

Social Upliftment 

Read more feedback from readers on our website | www.southafricanconversations.co.za/directory

southafrican CONVERSATiONS resourcedirectory | 5 

ENDORSEMENTS 

This labour of love, affirmation 

and empowerment will go down 

in Mzansi’s history as one of 

those small miracles that made 

a huge difference in shaping the 

country we all want. 

– Lidia Pretorius Disability 

Consultant 

The directory succeeds in 

presenting a vast amount 

of information in an easily 

accessible way. 

– George Dor, Advanced 

Mathematics Educator 

This is so much more 

than a directory – it’s an 

education in book form – 

a school, a university in 

itself – as much as a bridge 

to community here in South 

Africa. It is a resource for 

life, literally. 

– Jagat Joti Kaur 

[We must] do everything in [our] 

power to get this extraordinary 

resource into the hands of the 

people of South Africa. For 

in its pages are gathered the 

wisdom, solutions and tools 

that will allow all South Africans 

to take individual responsibility 

for building a better world – 

for ourselves, our families, our 

communities and our country. 

– Professor Dan Sandi 

We'd love to hear what you think, too. talk.to.us@southafricanconversations.co.za 

We all think that everyone 

nowadays has access to Google, 

but this is simply not the case. 

Millions of our people do not 

have money for data to find the 

information that can change 

their lives. This book should 

circulate our townships and 

rural areas where communities 

are deprived of information. 

The Directory makes it possible 

for all South Africans to easily 

and cheaply find information 

that wealthy people take for 

granted. Every household in 

impoverished communities 

should have a copy of this book. 

It will empower people to tap 

into opportunities and better 

their own lives. 

– Renee Andrews, Treasurer 

General, Black Business Chamber 

This directory is one of the 

most incredible resources I 

have ever come across ... 

It is an extraordinarily 

beautiful and accessible 

tool providing access to 

information and knowledge 

that communities can draw 

on to give substance to the 

rights provided for us by our 

Constitution. 

– Dr Marjorie Jobson, National 

Director, Khulumani Support 

Group 

I cannot thank you enough 

that you have placed such a 

wealth of information in one 

book. It is a true Godsend 

that will empower and 

strengthen communities. 

– Washiela Sait Disability Advisor 

An encyclopedic guide ... 

accessible even to non-techsavvy 

individuals. It is like 

holding Google in your hands. 

A huge time-saver, as you get 

curated what you are looking 

for, in compact form – rather 

than getting lost, misled or 

distracted by surfing around. 

– Truida Prekel SynNovation 

Solutions 

Encyclopedic, life-enhancing 

information – accessible even 

when there is no data, no 

computer or smartphone, and 

even when there is no electricity. 

It’s like a printed Google for 

South Africa. 

– Mpho Khauoe, CEO, Lintle 

Community Awakening 

We’d love to hear what YOU think about the directory | talk.to.us@southafricanconversations.co.za


It is our sincere hope at South African Conversations that the information in this book will 

empower, bring hope and positive change to individuals, families and communities all over South 

Africa. One small entry could do that. Dip in, and see what pertains to your life. 

This showcase provides a preview of the first two pages from 

each editorial category in the Resource Directory, plus a few 

editorial bits and pieces. 

These 82 pages offer a glimpse of what to expect from the 

complete book of 372 pages.


CONTENTS 

Are you, your family or community faced with a challenging situation? 

Help is available: mostly free or low-cost. Take a look at the resources and solutions in this directory. 

Always call to make sure the information is accurate, before going to a place. 

Don’t give up hope. People do care. And don’t stop doing everything you can do to help yourself. 

This book will give you access to both. 

– Peter Drucker 

Animal Welfare .................................................. 7 

Gender & Violence Issues .............................. 220 

Child Welfare ..................................................... 18 

Health .................................................................. 232 

Civil Society ......................................................... 42 

Human Rights ..................................................... 254 

Crime & Justice ................................................. 58 

Labour Matters .................................................. 260 

Crisis Support .................................................... 66 

Land, Housing & Essential Services .......... 266 

Disability ............................................................... 74 

LGBTQI+ ................................................................ 278 

EDUCATION ........................................................... 102 

Primary & Secondary School Subject Resources 

Resources for Schools & Educators 

Access to Books 

Resources for Lifelong Learning 

Employment Solutions & 

Sustainable Livelihoods ............................ 142 

Entrepreneurship .............................................. 166 

Food Growing ..................................................... 184 

Food, Hunger & Nutrition ............................... 202 

Men & Boys .......................................................... 288 

Mental & Emotional Health .......................... 298 

....................................... 306 


.................................................... 312 

Senior Citizens 

Social Welfare & Humanitarian Support .325 

................... 338 

Substance Abuse & Addiction 

.............................................. 348 


...................................................................... 360 

Youth 

– Paul Hawken

Help spread 

awareness of the 

lives of those who 

cannot speak for 

themselves 

Order a copy of the 

Resource Directory 

and we’ll give you free 

access to A3 print-quality 

PDFs plus JPGs for digital 

use of each of these posters. 

Scan the QR code or go to 

www.southafricanconversations. 

co.za/directory 

to order the Directory and claim 

free access to the posters.



– Moby 

t 

FOOD FOR PETS DURING 

TOUGH TIMES 

If you are struggling and need food for 

your pets, ask for help at an animal 

welfare organisation close to you – see 

ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANISATIONS on 

the following pages. 

If you are in a position to donate pet 

food to an animal welfare organisation 

close to you, please do so … regularly. 

All the organisations listed on these 

pages need help – not only with 

pet food, but also with tick and flea 

treatments, dog kennels and blankets, 

as well as veterinary treatments. 

And please adopt homeless animals – in 

pairs, so they have a companion when 

you’re not around. Adopted animals 

make grateful pets. 

AFFORDABLE 

Home-made pet food 

Doggy meals | 

• 1 cup of soaked soy chunks/mince/ 

granules AND/OR a cup of lentils 

Most commercial dog foods are made with 

soy proteins – made from soybeans, not 

animal proteins. Unflavoured dry soy mince 

or chunks cost very little. Once you add hot 

water and let it soak for 5 to 10 minutes, it 

doubles in size and can be used as a meat 

substitute because it contains all the essential 

amino acids needed to form complete 

proteins. Plain soy absorbs flavours well, so 

use the soaking water from a pan or pot in 

which you’ve cooked your own food. You may 

add a bit of oil, but DO NOT add salt. Then add: 

• 4 cups of cooked mealie meal, rice, oats 

or about half a loaf of bread. 

• 2 to 3 cups of cabbage leaves, vegetable 

peels/table scraps. Ensures balanced 

nutrition. 

• Any edible wild greens from around 

your yard. (See FORAGING FOR FOOD in 

the FOOD, HUNGER & NUTRITION pages 

elsewhere in the directory.) 

Mix all the ingredients and freeze in small 

portions. If you don’t have a freezer, make the 

food in roughly the above ratios, as needed, 

Doggy broth | 

• Use any bones left over from a meal or 

buy a bag of cheap bones. 

Boil the bones in water WITH: 

• Water from pots in which you cooked 

your food. 

• The oil from a can of sardines 

• Vegetable peels, table scraps or leftover 

food. 

• The water from canned food. 

• Wild greens. (See FORAGING FOR FOOD 

in the FOOD, HUNGER & NUTRITION 

pages.) 

• Pour the broth over cooked mealie meal, 

rice, old bread or dry dog food. 

Boiling makes beef bones harder and safer to 

chew on than raw bones, so give the bones to 

your dogs after making the broth. Small bones 

can cause choking. Don’t ever give chicken 

and sharp-edged bones to pets because they 

splinter and can cause internal bleeding. 

Make sure your pets ALWAYS have 

plenty of fresh water. Especially if they 

are not getting a lot of food. 

The most expensive pet food is not 

necessarily the best pet food. And the 

cheapest is not necessarily healthy. 

If the first two ingredients are meat 

or fish plus a grain or chicken meal, 

you’re good to go. If it contains artificial 

colours and flavours, look for something 

else. Club together with neighbours to 

buy pet food in bulk. It is a lot cheaper. 

Keep pet food bags closed to prevent 

spoilage. 

Cat food | Unfortunately, cats need 

much more protein than dogs. An 

unbalanced diet can cause severe health 

problems that will eventually cost a lot more 

in vet bills. There are some recipes online 

for making dry cat food, but the ingredients 

are expensive and you need to have an 

oven to make them. It is best to invest in a 

high-quality commercial cat food or to look 

for help if you’re struggling to feed your cats. 

Laws to Protect Animals 

From the Animals Protection Act 71 

of 1962 | www.gov.za 

YOU MAY NOT: 

n Keep an animal in dirty and parasitic 

conditions. 

n Abandon an animal, causing the 

animal to suffer. 

n Unnecessarily confine, cage, chain or 

tie up an animal. 

n Leave an animal without water, food 

or shelter from the elements. 

n Leave a sick or wounded animal 

without medical treatment. 

n Torture and wilfully hurt an animal. 

n Terrify an animal. 

n Provoke or incite any animal to 

attack or fight with another animal, 

such as dog and cock-fights. 

n Overload work animals, such as 

horses and donkeys. 

n Force an injured or sick animal to 

perform work. 

n Keep animals in overcrowded 

conditions. 

n Confine an animal in any place that 

doesn’t have adequate ventilation, 

light, protection or shelter from 

heat, cold or weather. (Animals – and 

children – have died in cars left in the 

sun with the windows closed.) 

n Trap animals (including mice) without 

reason; not checking the trap when 

there is a valid reason to trap. 

n Keep exotic animals in captivity. 

n Poison an animal. 

IN SHORT: you may not do anything 

that will cause injury, disease or 

unnecessary suffering to any animal. 

Doing so is illegal and could result in 

a fine or imprisonment. 

Kindly report missing or incorrect information to talk.to.us@southafricanconversations.co.za >>>

“People here in Mpophomeni 

are now taking care of their dogs, 

they are getting the dogs sterilised 

and they are treating them like 

family. Funda Nenja has taught me 

… to treat all people and animals 

with respect and 

kindness.” 

– 

Goodluck 

Mvelase 

Teach the children 

of your community to bond 

with their dogs. 

They will become agents 

of change and role 

models of empathetic, 

responsible dog 

ownership. 

All manner of 

unanticipated 

benefits will 

follow. 

“Every township needs a Funda Nenja for the children and the dogs.” – Sandile Ndlovu 

Download a free, insightful evaluation of Funda Nenja’s work, edited 

by research fellow, Dr. Jim Taylor, at www.fundanenja.co.za 

Contact Adrienne Olivier, Funda Nenja co-founder, to find out how 

your community could start its own Funda Nenja. Consultations by 

tax-deductible donation. Adrienne has talked about the impact of this 

unique people-centered model at the International Companion Animal 

Welfare Conference in Krakow, Poland, and at the 3rd International 

Conference on Dog Population Management in Mombasa, Kenya. 

083 636 0891 

adrienne@fundanenja.co.za 

www.fundanenja.co.za



Movies & Documentaries That Raise Awareness of Animals as Sentient Beings 

Animal Movies for Children 

Animal Activist Movies & Talks 

Animal/Nature Documentaries 

Many available on YouTube. *For older kids. 

A Boy, A Dog and A Frog (1981) | A 

delightful short movie about a young boy 

and his dog setting out to catch a frog. 

Babe (1995) | A story about a pig and a 

farmer. First read the book with your 

child, then watch the movie. 

Charlotte’s Web (2006) | A wonderful 

story about the friendship between a 

young girl, a spider and a piglet. 

Dolphin Tale (2011) | Based on a true 

story about a friendship between a boy 

and a dolphin. 

Duma (2005) | An adventure film 

about a young South African boy’s 

friendship with an orphaned cheetah. 

Finding Nemo (2003) | Animated. A 

father fish is on a mission to find his son, 

Nemo, who has been “fishnapped” by 

divers who want to display him in a tank. 

* Fly Away Home (1996) | A girl and 

her father, an aviation expert, help a flock 

of orphaned geese fly. 

Free Willy (1993) | A touching story 

about a friendship between a 12-year-old 

street kid and a 3-ton killer whale. 

* Okja (2017) | A remarkable movie 

about a young girl’s fight to save her best 

friend – a beast named Okja. 

The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1986) 

| The friendship between a cat and a 

dog who stray from their farm in Japan. 

The Bear (1988) | A bear cub bonds 

with a male grizzly after its mother is 

killed in a rock slide. 

* The Call of the Wild (2020) | An 

adventure film with a dog named Buck. 

8 movies have been made based on the 

novel of the same name by Jack London. 

The Incredible Journey (1963 or the 

remade version 1993) | Two dogs and 

a cat travel 200 miles across wilderness 

to find their owners. 

The Mouse and the Motorcycle (1986) 

| The charming adventures of a mouse 

who speaks and rides a toy motorcycle. 

View before sharing. Use with discretion. 

Blackfish | Explores the intelligence 

and sentience of killer whales, exposing 

their cruel treatment in captivity. 

Blood Lions | Exposes the suffering 

of lions associated with wildlife tourism: 

canned hunts, cub petting and walking 

with lions in SA. www.bloodlions.org 

Dominion | A multiple award-winning 

documentary about animal farming. Free: 

www.dominionmovement.com/watch 

Earthlings | About society’s use of 

animals. “If I could make everyone in the 

world see one film, I’d make them see 

EARTHLINGS.” – Peter Singer. Watch it free 

here: www.nationearth.com 

GUNDA | A black-and-white silent film 

that follows the daily life of a pig, two 

cows and a one-legged chicken. 

Philip Wollen: Animals Should Be Off The 

Menu debate | A landmark speech of 

our time. Watch it on YouTube. 

Speciesism: The movie | A young man 

discovers a movement that considers 

animals as important as humans. 

TEDtalks | Search for ‘animals’. 

The Animals Film | A study of cruelty 

to animals in labs, farming, fur trade, the 

military, hunting & the pet food industry. 

The Ivory Game | Filmed under cover 

for 16 months. Exposes the corruption 

of global ivory trafficking and the impact 

it is having on the African elephant 

population. 

The Last Pig | An award-winning 

documentary about a pig farmer who 

can no longer bear the ultimate act of 

betrayal. Educator support material: 

www.thelastpig.com/humane-educatorsupport/ 

Tribe of Heart | Award-winning 

documentaries and teaching materials. 

Movies include: Peaceable Kingdom – The 

Journey Home and The Witness | mail@ 

tribeofheart.org | www.tribeofheart.org 

You 

Tube 

Best 

Speech You Will Ever Hear – Gary 

Yourofsky 

Africa: The Serengeti | Captures 

the natural beauty and timeless cycles 

of nature and of wildlife migration in 

Tanzania. 

Earth | A global journey reveals 

how animal mothers struggle to raise 

their young in increasingly dangerous 

environments. 

Elephant | Follows a family of 

elephants as it treks through the Kalahari 

Desert in search of water. 

March of the Penguins I & II | At 

the end of each Antarctic summer, the 

emperor penguins of the South Pole 

journey to their traditional breeding 

grounds in a fascinating mating ritual that 

is captured in these documentaries. 

My Octopus Teacher | A diver swims 

with an octopus that lives in a kelp forest 

off the coast of South Africa. 

Reflections on Elephants | About 

African elephants, the touching way they 

react to and bury their dead, and more. 

Seasons | A beautifully filmed 

documentary about European wildlife. 

Sir David Attenborough | Find a 

complete list of his astounding output 

spanning seven decades, on Wikipedia, 

under David Attenborough filmography. 

The Elephant Queen | Multiple awardwinning 

documentary follows a herd of 

elephants across the Kenyan savanna. 

The Eye of the Leopard | A film about a 

3-year-old leopard in the Okavango Delta. 

The Last Lions | Follows a lioness as 

she protects her cubs from the dangers 

of an unforgiving and uncaring world. 

The Serengeti Shall Not Die | A true 

classic that made the Serengeti famous. 

The Year of the Wildebeest | A film of 

the Serengeti migration. 

Zebras – Patterns in the Grass | A 

film about the annual 300 km migration 

of zebras in Botswana. 

You 

Tube 

Search 

for ‘animal documentaries’. 

n 

>>>


CHILD WELFARE 

Do you 

need 

someone 

to talk 

to? 

t 

HELPLINES 

Child Emergency Line | 0800 123 321 

ChildLine South Africa | 24-Hour 

national toll-free helpline: 116 

Child Welfare South Africa | 087 822 

1516 

Centurion Child Protection Hotline | 

071 192 0569 

Missing Children | 072 647 7464 | f 

MissingChildrenSouthAfrica 

Police | For any life-threatening 

emergency | 10111 

Difficulty with emergency services | 1022 

SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection & 

Sexual Offences helplines (office hours) | 

• Head Office: Tshwane/Pretoria | 012 

393 2107 

• Eastern Cape | 040 608 8498 

• Free State | 051 507 6628 

• Gauteng | 011 309 6016 / 011 403 3413 

• KwaZulu-Natal | 031 325 4941 

• Limpopo | 015 290 6180 

• Mpumalanga | 013 762 4770 

• North West | 018 299 7159 

• Northern Cape | 053 839 282 

• Western Cape | 021 467 8390 

– Nelson Mandela 

ACCREDITED ADOPTION 

SERVICE PROVIDERS 

Many organisations listed under CHILD 

WELFARE ORGANISATIONS elsewhere in 

this section, also facilitate adoptions. 

In South Africa there are only two ways 

in which you can legally adopt a child: 

• By working through an accredited 

adoption organisation. 

• By adopting a child with the assistance 

of an adoption social worker within 

South Africa’s legally accredited 

adoption system. 

It is illegal to buy a child. 

Adoption Role-Players 

National Adoption Coalition of South 

Africa (NACSA) | A network of SA 

adoption roleplayers. Will refer people 

to accredited adoption services close to 

them. Provides process information for 

prospective adoptive and birth parents 

| info@adoption.org.za | The 

following sites carry lists of accredited 

adoption service providers in SA | 

www.adoptioncoalitionsa.org | 

www.adoption.org.za | 

www.crisispregnancy.org.za | 

NATIONAL / MULTIPLE PROVINCES 

Abba Specialist Adoption & Social 

Services | A designated child protection 

NPO with accreditation for national and 

intercountry adoptions. Provides a range of 

services directly to abandoned, neglected, 

orphaned and vulnerable children in need 

of permanent alternative family care | Call 

for information about a branch office in your 

province: 012 342 6145 or 082 783 3374 | 

info@abbaadoptions.co.za or fill in a form 

online | www.abbadoptions.co.za 

CMR | Focusses on stepparent and foster 

care placement adoptions. 

• CMR Burgersdorp | 079 112 9457 

| cmrburg@vodamail.co.za | f CMR 

Burgersdorp 

• CMR East London | 9 Gordon Rd, 

Southernwood | 043 722 6104 | 

manager@cmrel.co.za | www.cmrel. 

co.za | f cmreastlondon 

• CMR Humansdorp | 10 Piet Uys St | 

042 295 1103 | cmrhdorp@telkomsa. 

net | f CMR, Humansdorp 

• CMR PE | 116 Mount Rd, North End, 

Gqeberha/PE | 041 484 3554 | 

cmr-pe@webafrica.org.za | www. 

cmrportelizabeth.co.za | f CMR, PE 

• CMR Mpumalanga | Head office: 23 

Dr Beyers Naude St, Middelburg. Call for 

contact details of a CMR office near you 

| 013 243 4776 | adopt@cmroos. 

co.za | www.cmr-mpumalanga.co.za | 

f cmrmpumalanga 

• CMR Noord/North | Head office: 153 

Middel St, Nieu Muckleneuk, Tshwane/ 

Pretoria. Call for contact details of a 

Centre of Hope near you | 012 460 

9272/ 3/ 4 | cmr@cmrn.co.za | www. 

cmrn.co.za | f cmrnoord 

• CMR Gauteng Oos/East | Head office 

| 430 Quebec St, Faerie Glen, Tshwane/ 

Pretoria. Call for contact details of a CMR 

office near you | 012 361 4613/19/25 

| info@cmroos.co.za | www.cmroos. 

co.za | f CMR Gauteng-Oos 

SAVF | Complete adoption services 

as part of family and child welfare work 

throughout South Africa | National office: 

41 Hospital St, Arcadia, Tshwane/Pretoria 

| Call for information about an SAVF office 

near you: 012 325 3920 | bverster@savf. 

Add your non-commercial listing to the next edition of the Directory. It is free | www.southafricanconversations.co.za/resource-directory


CHILD WELFARE 

Call 116 any time of the day or night, any day of the week, 

no matter how old you are. 

It is free from all networks. 

It is for all the children who live in South Africa ... 

and for adults who care about them. 

D/deaf? Text with a counsellor online at 

https://chat.childlinesa.org.za/chat 

Photo | Bennett Tobias | Unsplash 

co.za or find regional email addresses on 

the website | www.savf.co.za 

Rata Social Services | Accredited 

adoption services in Gauteng, North West, 

Mpumalanga and Limpopo | Head office: 

NHKA Montana, Die Kruishuis, 350 Jan 

Bantjies St, Montana, Tshwane/Pretoria. Call 

for information for a Rata office near you | 

012 543 0234 / 012 543 0446 / WhatsApp 

064 437 5997 | info@rata.org.za | 

www.rata.org.za | f ratasocialservices 

EASTERN CAPE 

See organisations listed under NATIONAL / 

MULTIPLE PROVINCES 

FREE STATE 

ENGO Adoption Services | Adoption 

services in the Free State | 22 Van 

Heerden Rd, Wilgehof, Bloemfontein | 

051 522 6914 / 082 202 4306 | info@ 

engo.co.za | www.engo.co.za 

GAUTENG 

Catholic Women’s League Adoption 

Society | Margaret House, 33 Roberts 

Ave, Kensington, Johannesburg | 011 

618 1533 / Crisis service: 011 614 3149 

| admin@cwladoptions.co.za | www. 

cwladoptions.org.za | f cwladoptions1 

Child Welfare Tshwane | Accredited 

adoption services | Head office: 72 Oates 

St, Groenkloof | 012 460 9236 / 072 332 

4660 | info@childwelfare.co.za | www. 

childwelfare.co.za 

Impilo Child Protection & Adoption 

Services | Assists with adoptions of 

abandoned children, consented child 

adoptions, step-parent and family 

adoptions, foster parent adoptions 

and adoption by biological fathers | 

Johannesburg: 20 Leigh Ave, Fairvale Ext 1 | 

011 640 1343/65 / 062 641 8455 | 

Sedibeng: 3rd Ave, Walkerville | 084 541 

2058 | administrator@impilo.org.za | 

www.impilo.org.za 

Are You Pregnant? 

Do You Need Information 

and Advice? 

Call 0800 864 658 now and talk with 

someone about adoption as an 

option. Or visit www.adoption.org. 

za or to www.crisispregnancy.org.za 

for advice and information. 

Or speak with someone at one 

of the organisations listed under 

ACCREDITED ADOPTION SERVICE 

PROVIDERS on this page OR any 

of the organisations listed under 

CRISIS / UNWANTED PREGNANCY 

COUNSELLING in the WOMEN & 

FAMILY pages. 

KWAZULU-NATAL 

Child Welfare Durban & District | 

Adoption services | 20 Clarence Rd, 

Greyville, Durban | 031 312 9313 | 

info@cwdd.org.za / manager.adoption@ 

cwdd.org.za | www.cwdd.org.za | f 

ChildWelfareDurban 

Richards Bay Family Care | Accredited 

adoption service provider | 035 789 

2640 / Crisis Number 084 460 8367 

| terrynne@richardsbayfamilycare. 

co.za / rbfc@zwn.co.za | www. 

richardsbayfamilycare.co.za 

LIMPOPO 



MPUMALANGA 



NORTH WEST 



NORTHERN CAPE 

Badisa | Professional adoption services 

throughout the NC. Call for info about 

facilities near you | Head office: 021 957 

7130 | info@badisa.org.za | www. 

badisa.org.za | f BadisaCharity 

– Words from a birth mother who gave 

consent for her child to be adopted. 

Penuel Children’s Foundation 

WESTERN CAPE 

Badisa | Professional adoption services 

throughout the WC. Call for information and 



CIVIL SOCIETY 

– Editor 

t 

CAPACITY-BUILDING 

ORGANISATIONS 

Also see, elsewhere in the directory: 

• The HUMAN RIGHTS pages. 

• The LABOUR MATTERS pages. 

• INFORMATION, TOOLS & RESOURCES 

(in particular UNDERSTANDING & 

INFLUENCING BUDGETS) in the LAND, 

HOUSING & ESSENTIAL SERVICES pages. 

DEMOCRACY 


Afesis-Corplan | Engages in initiatives 

that strive to achieve good local governance, 

participatory democracy and an empowered 

civil society, with the goal of strengthening 

participatory democratic local governance 

anywhere in South Africa | 9 Wynne St, 

Southernwood, East London, Eastern Cape 

| 043 743 3830 | info@afesis.org.za | 

www.afesis.org.za | f Afesis-corplan 

Ahmed Kathrada Foundation | 

Promotes the values, rights and principles 

enshrined in the Freedom Charter and the 

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. 

Free ‘Activist School’ offers downloadable 

content for would-be activists and societal 

change-makers: lessons about democracy, 

systems of government, human rights & 

social justice, separation of powers, the 

electoral system and why you should vote, 

the equality courts, and more | Signet 

Terrace Office Park, Block B, Suite 2, 19 

Guinea-Fowl St, Lenasia, Gauteng | 076 

243 1185 / 011 854 0082 | info@ 

kathradafoundation.org | www. 

You 

Tube 

kathradafoundation.org | & f Ahmed 

Kathrada Foundation 

Alliance for Rural Democracy (ARD) | 

A Collective of civil society organisations 

working in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, KZN, 

Mpumalanga & the North West to capacitate 

activists and communities, amplify rural 

voices, champion democracy, restorative 

land justice and security of land tenure for 

residents of the former Bantustans. Info-rich 

website | Braamfischer Towers, 20 Albert 

St, Marshaltown, JHB | 066 132 5909 | 

info@ruraldemocracy.org.za | www.ardt. 

org.za | f RuralDemocracy 

– Conference for Democratic Renewal 

and Change Declaration 

Alternative Information & Development 

Centre | An alliance of labour, 

community & faith organisations in 

the interest of developing democratic, 

socially just, economically viable and 

ecologically sustainable responses to 

underdevelopment, neoliberal globalisation 

and extractivist modes of development. 

Well-stocked library of books to understand 

our rapidly changing world | 129 Rochester 

Rd, Observatory, Cape Town | 021 447 5770 

| info@aidc.org.za | www.aidc.org.za 

C19 People’s Coalition | An alliance of 

social movements, trade unions, community 

organisations and NGOs working to ensure 

that the South African response to viral 

& other health threats is effective, just, 

equitable, and meets the needs of those 

who are most marginalised. Works in the 

following areas: safety awareness & vaccine 

literacy, basic income support, psychosocial 

support, food-security, gender-based 

violence, state repression & exploitative 

business practices | Join via the website 

| www.c19peoplescoalition.org.za | f 

Covid-19 People’s Coalition 

Civics Academy | An independent, 

NPO online education initiative to inform 

and strengthen democratic values and 

responsible citizenship. Free video 

and audio content covers democracy, 

governance, elections, political parties, 

the justice system, the Constitution, 

economics, civil society, human rights and 

the environment | info@civicsacademy. 

co.za | www.civicsacademy.co.za | f 

You 

Tube 

CivicsacademyZA | Civics Academy SA 

Films For Action 

A library of 10,000+ 

(mostly free) 

social change documentaries, short 

films and videos 

(many award-winning) 

www.filmsforaction.org 

Here are some of the intriguing titles: 

n Not Business as Usual 

n The Compassionate Activist Toolkit: 

the Ultimate Guide to Love-Centred 

Activism 

n 8 Principles for a Regenerative 

Civilization 

n 20 Principles for Successful 

Community Organising 

n Towards a Perspective on 

Eliminating Racism 

n A New Story for Humanity 

n The Sacred Balance: Rediscovering 

Our Place in Nature 

n The Power of Community 

Made available by Films For Action 

to provide citizens of the world with 

the information and perspectives 

essential to creating a more just, 

sustainable, and democratic society. 

CIVICUS | A global alliance of civil society 

organisations and activists dedicated to 

strengthening citizen participation. Free 

associate membership | 25 Owl St, 

Braamfontein Werf, Johannesburg | 011 

833 5959 | info@civicus.org | www. 

You 

Tube 

civicus.org | f CIVICUS | CIVICUS 

WorldAlliance 



CIVIL SOCIETY 

Co-operative and Policy Alternative 

Center (COPAC) | Promotes a 

‘Solidarity Economy’ alternative. Grassroots 

movements capacity building. Promotes 

popular education and activist training for 

democratic transformative politics. Supports 

the development of systemic alternatives 

to ensure ecological justice that meets the 

needs of workers, the poor, women & youth 

| copac@icon.co.za / copac2@icon.co.za 

| www.copac.org.za | f COPACSA 

Council for the Advancement of the 

South African Constitution (CASAC) 

| Works to advance the South African 

Constitution as the platform for democratic 

politics and the transformation of society 

| 021 685 8809 | info@casac.org.za | 

www.casac.org.za | f CasacZA 

Democracy Development Programme | 

Works to deepen the practice of democracy 

in South Africa through helping to build 

strong and active communities that can hold 

those in power to account | DDP House, 

32 Dullah Omar Lane, Durban | 031 304 

9305 | info@ddp.org.za | www.ddp. 

org.za | f DDPdemocracy 

– From a United Nations poster 

Democracy Works Foundation | Tools, 

platforms and content to strengthen 

democratic culture and democracy 

institutions in the southern African region | 

010 023 0835 | info@democracyworks. 

org.za | www.democracyworks.org.za | 

f DemocracyWF 

Direct Democracy | Tools to empower 

voters | 082 571 2856 | info@ 

directdemocracy.org.za | www. 

directdemocracy.org.za 

Dullah Omar Institute | Research, 

teaching and advocacy on human rights and 

inclusive, accountable governance in South 

Africa and the region. Resource-rich website 

| University of the Western Cape, Cape 

Town | 021 959 2950 | doi@uwc.ac.za 

| www.dullahomarinstitute.org.za 

Education & Training Unit (ETU) | 

Experts in local government, elections, 

public participation, government policy, 

community development, public issue 

campaigning. Specialises in capacity 

building – training, facilitation, materials 

development and strategic planning – for 

community-based organisations, public 

servants and public representatives 

| 38 Observatory Ave, Observatory, 

Johannesburg, Gauteng | 011 648 

9430/1 / 082 448 9784 / 082 561 1040 | 

edutrain@iafrica.com | www.etu.org.za 

Foundation for Human Rights | 

Capacity building and support to strengthen 

civil society organisations and public 

institutions to promote and facilitate 

increased awareness, respect, protection 

and fulfilment of the rights enshrined in 

the South African Constitution. Supports 

investigations and prosecutions of 

apartheid-era crimes & gross human rights 

violations. Assists victims and victims’ 

groups. Creates a platform for government, 

civil society and other relevant stakeholders 

to engage in dialogue about human rights 

issues. Undertakes constitutional education, 

grant-making for CSOs, and civil society 

mobilisation (with particular emphasis on 

poorly resourced, rural organisations) in order 

to protect and promote human rights | 

Old Trafford 3 Bldg, Isle of Houghton, 36 

Boundary Rd, Parktown, Johannesburg | 

011 593 4000 / 011 484 0390 | info@fhr. 

org.za | www.fhr.org.za | f FHRights 

Good Governance Learning Network 

(GGLN) | A membership organisation 

that works towards strengthening 

participatory local democracy through 

networking, collective learning, research 

and information sharing – open to NPOs, 

PBOs and academic institutions that have at 

least one pro-poor programme that focuses 

on issues of good governance | Ubunye 

House, 70 Rosmead Ave, Kenilworth, Cape 

Town | 021 683 7903 | admin@isandla. 

org.za | www.ggln.org.za | f ggln2018 

Hivos | Amplifies and connects voices 

that promote social and environmental 

justice and challenge power imbalances. 

Promotes access to power for all citizens 

so they can actively participate in a truly 

democratic society. Supports marginalised 

people and their organisations and helps 

build social movements that strive for just, 

inclusive and sustainable societies | 011 

726 1090 | info@hivos.co.za | https:// 

southern-africa.hivos.org | www.hivos.org 

Human Sciences Research Council | 

Informs the effective formulation and 

monitoring of government policy; evaluates 

policy implementation; stimulates public 

debate through the effective dissemination 

of research-based data and fact-based 

research results; fosters research 

collaboration; conducts large-scale, 

policy-relevant, social-scientific projects 

for public-sector users, non-governmental 

organisations and international 

development agencies. Closely aligned 

with South Africa’s national development 

priorities | 134 Pretorius St, Tshwane/ 

Pretoria | 012 302 2000 | Contact 

via website | www.hsrc.ac.za | f 

You 

Tube 

HumanSciencesResearchCouncil | 

HumanSciencesRCSA 

Institute for Accountability in Southern 

Africa (IFAISA) / known as Accountability 

Now | Works to ensure that the rule of 

law is upheld by ensuring that governments, 

parastatals & the private sector are held to 

account. Freely download Know Your Rights, 

Claim Your Rights from their site | Contact 

via website | www.accountabilitynow.org. 

za | f AccountabilityNowSA 

Institute for Justice and Reconciliation 

| Helps to build fair, inclusive and 

democratic societies in Africa through 

carefully selected engagements and 

interventions | 105 Hatfield St, 

Gardens, Cape Town | 021 202 4071 

| info@ijr.org.za | www.ijr.org.za | f 

InstituteforJusticeandReconciliation 

Keep It Constitutional / Amarightza 

| A resource-rich educational site and 

Facebook page to teach people about 

their Constitutional rights and how to put 

these rights into action | 076 176 0831 

| www.keepitconstitutional.co.za | f 

You 

Tube 

KeepItConstitutional | Amarightza 

Lessons for CHANGE 

Principles, tactics, strategies and 

structures developed by amazing 

people from around the world to 

change their unequal societies | 

www.lessonsforchange.org 

My Vote Counts | Works to enhance 

access to, control of and participation in 

our democracy for all South Africans. Site 

contains educational resources | www. 

myvotecounts.org.za | f myxcounts 

Open Government Partnership (OGP) | 

Helps ensure citizen participation in shaping 

and overseeing government to deliver the 

promise of democracy beyond the ballot 

box. South Africa is a member. Resourcerich 

website | info@opengovpartnership. 

org | www.opengovpartnership.org | f 

You 

Tube 

OpenGovernmentPartnership | Open 

Government Partnership 

Planact | Promotes and supports 

integrated human settlements to make 

towns and cities work for people. 



CIVIL SOCIETY 

Here's How to Become an Active Citizen and Make Your Voice Heard 

– Dr Helen Caldicott 

There are many channels and opportunities available to ordinary citizens for representation 

and participation in the governance of our country. We have the right, for instance, to nominate candidates 

for public posts to represent and fight for the interests of our communities. 

But WE must act. WE must participate in elections. WE must attend open council and ward meetings or write 

letters if we cannot attend meetings. WE must report problems or join a group that’s doing something about it. 

And WE must hold elected officials accountable. 

– Barack Obama 

(See the many citizen platforms, resources and tools to support citizen action in the CIVIL SOCIETY pages. In particular, find the yellow boxed 

information titled: Learn how to participate in Government budget processes.) 

Don’t like what you see? Do something about it! 

Burning, stoning and causing destruction are not 

solutions but only leave the situation worse off than 

before. Instead, learn how to become an active citizen, 

able to powerfully impact local, provincial and national 

government decisions and actions. 

n To report problems, always start at a local level. 

Lodge a formal complaint, preferably in writing, to 

the relevant responsible individual, department 

manager or Community Liaison official / Customer 

Care Centre at your local municipality. 

n Document what’s going on. Keep a record of 

the dates on which you take action, as well as a 

description of your actions and the names and 

titles of the people you contact and with whom 

you interact. Keep copies of correspondence. 

n If the formal complaint doesn’t produce the 

desired result, submit a copy of the complaint to 

the Municipal Manager. 

n If that doesn’t work, contact your Ward Committee 

or elected Ward Councillor. This person officially 

represents the public in the municipality. To 

find your local Council, your local elected Ward 

Councillor and which ward you are in (this is also 

the place where you would vote) go to the IEC 

website: www.elections.org.za | General contact 

information should be on the same site or you can 

find it on the Council’s website. 

n If the Ward Councillor doesn’t respond, make an 

appointment to meet with the mayor. 

n If that fails to produce the desired result, contact 

a Member of the Executive Council (MEC) or the 

Parliamentary Constituency Offices (PCO) in your 

area to bring the issue to the attention of your 

party’s elected Member of Parliament. Most 

constituency offices employ an administrator to 

interact with the public. 

n A useful website for finding out about our 

Provincial and National representatives is the 

People’s Assembly website at www.pa.org.za. 

Their RepLocator allows you to find out who your 

representative is, how to contact them, and the 

location of your nearest constituency office. 

n Contact the relevant Minister’s office. 

n Contact the Ombudsman for the Government 

department where you are seeking assistance. 

n When all your attempts to get assistance from a 

government department, province, municipality 

or state agency have failed, call the Presidential 

Helpline on 17737 between 7:30 and 22:00. Or 

write to the President at president@presidency. 

gov.za | You can also suggest solutions to the 

challenges in your community. 

n If your complaint continues to fall on deaf ears, 

take it to the next level: use social media to 

network and organise a petition; use the platforms 

and channels listed in this section of the directory; 

inform the media; or, as a last resort, take the 

matter to court. 

If you do nothing, you have no right to complain. n


CIVIL SOCIETY 

PROTECTION FOR 

WHISTLEBLOWERS 

Also see RESOURCES & TOOLS and 

WHISTLEBLOWING PLATFORMS 

elsewhere in this section, as well as the 

HUMAN RIGHTS pages. 

Platform to Protect Whistleblowers 

in Africa / Plateforme de Protection des 

Lanceurs d’Alerte en Afrique (PPLAAF) 

| Seeks to protect, support & defend 

whistleblowers where disclosures speak 

to the public interest. Highly informative 

website | info@pplaaf.org | www. 

pplaaf.org | f PPLAAF 

The Whistleblower House | A South 

African NPO & PBO that facilitates access 

to support services for whistle-blowers. 

Resource-rich website | 064 524 0241 

| info@whistleblowerhouse.org | www. 

whistleblowerhouse.org 

RESOURCES & TOOLS 

Black Sash | www.blacksash.org.za | 

Under ‘Media & Publications’, download the 

following (and more): 

• Social Grants: Challenging Reckless Lending 

in South Africa 

• Domestic Workers and Coida 

(Compensation for Occupational Injuries 

and Diseases Act) 

• Summary Of Recommendations For South 

Africa From The United Nations Committee 

On Economic, Social And Cultural Rights 

• The Black Sash Model Of Community Based 

Monitoring 

Commonwealth Foundation | Freely 

download the following tools from the 

resource-rich Knowledge Hub | www. 

commonwealthfoundation.com 

• Monitoring and evaluation tools 

compendium 

• Africa Platform for Social Protection 

advocacy toolkit 

• Network Effectiveness Framework 

• The Participation and Transparency Tool 

• The Participation and Transparency Tool 

• Civil Society Accountability Principles and 

Practice South Africa Toolkit 

Other resources available under Audio, 

Publications and Blog. 

Community Organiser’s Toolbox | 

Offered by Education & Training Unit (ETU) 

| Contains guides on a wide range of skills 

to help community organisers & activists in 

building efficient/democratic organisations. 

Covers: Work in the community, building 

an organisation, Managing your finances, 

Administration, IT, Paralegal advice, Local 

government, HIV/Aids, Government 

programmes & policies and Understanding 

development | www.etu.org.za 

Corruption Watch | Freely download the 

above and any of the following (and many 

more) publications from their resource-rich 

website: 

• Corruption and The Law in SA – A Quick 

Reference Guide 

• Corruption in Uniform – When Cops 

Become Criminals 

• Prevention and Combating of Corrupt 

Activities Act (A Powerpoint presentation) 

• The Law for Sale 

• The Whistleblower’s Handbook 

• Toolkit for Community Media 

• Tools to Fight Corruption At Your School 

• Transparency in Corporate Reporting 

• Understanding Tender Corruption 

You 

Tube 

www.corruptionwatch.org.za | 

CorruptionWatchSA 

Democracy Development Programme 

| Request the following publications from 

RESOURCES on the website: 

• Democracy And You (Available in English, 

Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans) 

• Vision 2030: Visualising The National 

Development Plan 

info@ddp.org.za | www.ddp.org.za 

Department of Justice and Constitutional 

Development | Useful citizen info: 

Resources>Publications | www.justice.gov.za 

Institute for Economic Justice | 

Provides rigorous economics analysis to 

help policy-makers and the public solve the 

problems of poverty & inequality in South 

Africa | info@iej.org.za | www.iej.org.za 

| f instituteforeconomicjustice 

Household Affordability Index | Brings 

to life the real picture of the current political 

economy to assist movements engaged in 

economic justice struggles. Produced by the 

Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity 

Group | 079 398 9384 | mervyn@pmbejd. 

org.za | www.pmbejd.org.za | f pmbejd 

Legal Aid | Comprehensive information 

on a wide variety of topics in their Selfhelp 

Portal | legal-aid.co.za/selfhelp 

Legal Resources Centre | A public 

interest litigation organisation that uses 

the law to remove structural obstacles to 

human rights, justice and dignity across the 

full range of rights in the Constitution of 

South Africa. Free access to case studies, 

judgements, court papers, publications 

and other resources | info@lrc.org.za | 

www.lrc.org.za | f LRCSouthAfrica 

Freely download this important book at 

www.disruptionlab.org/book 

Making Local Government Work – An 

Activist’s Guide | Sets out the legal 

responsibilities of local government, and the 

public’s rights under the Constitution and 

in law. Shows how to engage government 

from inside by participating in formal 

processes, and from outside by going public 

through complaints, petitions, protest 

action, the media and the courts. A joint 

project by SECTION27, the Treatment 

Action Campaign (TAC), the Socio-Economic 

Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) 

and Read Hope Phillips | Download 

it here: www.seri-sa.org/images/stories/ 

activistguidetolocalgovernment_aug11.pdf 

Office of the High Commissioner for 

Human Rights (OHCHR) | A United 

Nations agency that represents the 

world’s commitment to the promotion 



CRIME & JUSTICE 

– Participant at a South African Conversations Community Conversation 

t 

CRIME PREVENTION, 

LAW & ORDER 


• The CRISIS SUPPORT pages for information 

about where to report crisis situations 

• WHISTLEBLOWING PLATFORMS & AVENUES 

TO REPORT CRIME & WRONGDOING in the 

CIVIL SOCIETY pages. 

Centre for the Study of Violence 

and Reconciliation | Partners with 

communities to address the root causes of 

violence and respond to its consequences. 

Resource-rich site | info@csvr.org.za| 

www.csvr.org.za | f TheCSVR 

• Johannesburg | 33 Hoof St, Braampark 

Forum 5, Jhb | 011 403 5650 

• Cape Town | 501 Premier Centre, 451 

Main Rd, Observatory | 021 447 2470 

Making South Africa Safe – A Manual for 

Community-based Crime Prevention. Search 

for the title to download | www.csir.co.za 

DNA for AFRICA | Working to harness 

forensic DNA to aid criminal justice systems, 

protect the innocent and to combat GBV, 

human trafficking and violent crime in Africa. 

Offers solutions to DNA backlogs, DNA 

database-building, limited DNA capacity 

and outdated DNA policies. Resource-rich 

website | info@dnaforafrica.com | 

www.dnaforafrica.com | f DNAforAfrica 

Global Campaign for Violence Prevention 

| Promotes the adoption of a public 

health approach to violence prevention, 

and provides a platform for collaboration 

and the exchange of information between 

actors at global and country level – including 

civil society. It focuses on different areas 

of violence prevention, including child 

maltreatment, youth violence, intimate 

partner violence, elder maltreatment, and 

armed violence prevention. Serves as 

the main platform for implementing the 

recommendations of the World Report on 

Violence and Health. Numerous links to 

useful, open-access resources, including 

webinars, research reports and manuals | 

f whoviolenceprevention 

– Joshua Farley 

Khulisa Social Solutions Silence the 

Violence | A programme that shows how 

violence is ingrained in our culture and 

belief systems and is reflected in many of 

our daily interactions. Participants learn 

practical ways to minimise violent behaviour 

| 011 788 8237 | info@khulisa.org.za | 

www.khulisa.org.za | f Khulisa Social 

You 

Tube 

Solutions | Khulisa Solutions 

National Government | Dealing with the 

law: useful information on how to report 

a crime; report a missing person; report 

scam letters and lottery scams; recover 

debt; apply for a firearm license; report 

discrimination or lodge a complaint about 

police misconduct, etc. | www.gov.za > 

Services > Select the category of info 

VPUU- Violence Prevention Through 

Urban Upgrading | Works to create 

Here’s what YOU can do 

to make a difference 

As a Concerned Onlooker | 

n 

Attend Community Police Forum 

meetings. Participate in joint 

community-police initiatives to help 

safeguard your neighbourhood. 

n 

Get to know your neighbours. Read: 

Yes, We CAN, South Africa! in the SOCIAL 

WELFARE & HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT 

pages. Start a Neighbourhood Watch. 

Lobby local and provincial government 

for funding and support. 

n 

Read The Tipping Point: How Little 

Things Can Make a Big Difference – a 

book by Malcolm Gladwell. He talks 

about the relationship between 

high crime rates and dilapidated 

environments. Take action! 

n 

See something going wrong, broken 

or not working in your community? 

Report it! Don’t assume that the 

authorities know about it. 

n 

Compensate people for the true value 

of their work. Poverty feeds crime. 

n 

Hold the police accountable for 

corrupt behaviour or inaction. See: 

Here’s How to Become An Active Citizen 

& Make Your Voice Heard in the CIVIL 

SOCIETY pages. 

As a policy maker | 

n 

South Africa has some of the best laws 

in the world. Enforce them! 

n 

Educate our police force. 

n 

Hold corrupt law-enforcement officers 

to account. 

n 

Add convicted offenders’ DNA profiles 

to a national offender database. 

n 

Add social workers, psychologists and 

addiction specialists to police stations 

and courts throughout South Africa, 

to help address the underlying causes 

of crime. 



CRIME & JUSTICE 

safe, sustainable, integrated, socially 

cohesive communities. Aims to overcome 

different levels of economic, cultural, 

social, institutional and spatial exclusion, 

in order to reduce and prevent crime, 

through a structured, participatory 

approach. Works in collaboration with 

communities, government departments and 

other organisations to implement multidisciplinary 

transformation programmes 

| 215 Lower Main Rd, Observatory, Cape 

Town | 021 447 0086 | hello@vpuu. 

org.za | www.vpuu.org.za | f VPUUSA 

– Frederick Douglass 

Western Cape Government | A 

directory of information about crime 

prevention and support, staying safe, your 

rights, reporting crime, police stations, 

courts and legal services | www. 

westerncape.gov.za > Directories > Facilities 

> Scroll through available categories 

– Kgosientso Ramokgopa 

JUSTICE FOR THE 

WRONGFULLY ACCUSED 

Also see LEGAL SUPPORT & RESOURCES 

in the HUMAN RIGHTS pages elsewhere 

in the directory. 

DNA for AFRICA | Working to expand the 

use of forensic DNA profiling in conjunction 

with a DNA database to aid criminal justice 

systems and to protect the innocent 

| info@dnaforafrica.com | www. 

dnaforafrica.com | f DNAforAfrica 

DNA Innocence Project | Uses forensic 

DNA technology to exonerate wrongly 

convicted inmates. The service is free. 

Prisoners can apply to have their case 

considered ONLY if there is a real claim of 

factual innocence and where all other legal 

remedies have been exhausted. Contact the 

project first, by phone or email, for guidance 

on how to prepare a request for assistance 

| DNA Innocence Project, Forensic DNA 

Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, 

University of the Western Cape, Robert 

Sobukwe Rd, Bellville 7535, Cape Town | 

079 489 2104 | InnocenceProject@uwc. 

ac.za | www.uwc.ac.za/study/all-areasof-study/departments/department-ofbiotechnology/projects-research 

... Once on 

the website, look for and click on the name: 

Prof Sean Davison for more info on the Project 

WITS Justice Project | Investigates cases 

of wrongfully convicted and awaiting trial 

prisoners – through journalism. Raises 

awareness of miscarriages of justice. Criteria 

for investigation on the website’s contact 

page | University Corner, 1 Jorissen St, JHB 

| justiceproject.journalism@wits.ac.za or fill 

in a form online | www.witsjusticeproject. 

co.za | f Wits Justice Project 

REPORT POOR CONDITIONS & 

ILL-TREATMENT OF INMATES 

See the HUMAN RIGHTS pages, as well as 

WHISTLEBLOWING in the CIVIL SOCIETY pages 

Department of Correctional Services | 

Contributes towards a just, peaceful & safe 

society by detaining prisoners in safe custody 

whilst ensuring that their human dignity 

is respected | 012 307 2000 | enquiry. 

complaints@dcs.gov.za / communications@ 

dcs.gov.za | www.dcs.gov.za 

Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional 

Services (JICS) | Responsible for the 

independent oversight of the Department of 

Correctional Services, and for upholding and 

protecting the rights of incarcerated people. 

Report ill-treatment of inmates and poor 

conditions in correctional centres | jics. 

dcs.gov.za 

• Head office | Salu Bldg, 316 Thabo Sehume 

St, Tshwane/Pretoria | 012 321 0303 

• Northern Region | Tuinhoff Bldg, 265 

Ave West, Centurion | 012 663 7521 

• Central Region | Fedsure House, 62 St 

Andrew St, Bloemfontein | 051 430 1954 

• KZN Region | Aqua Sky Bldg, 275 Anton 

Lembede St, Durban | 031 366 1900 

• Eastern Cape Region | Magistrate Court, 

4 Buffalo St, East London | 043 722 2729 

• Western Cape Region | Standard Bank 

Bldg, 1 Thibault Square, Cape Town | 

021 412 1012/3/4 

Offenders Rights 

n 

Human dignity 

n 

Equal treatment 

n 

Freedom and security 

n 

Access to health care 

n 

Access to education 

n 

Freedom of religion 

n 

Humane treatment 

n 

Communication with and 

visits from family and friends. 

– Ella Jakubowska 

RAPE IN DETENTION 

While anyone is vulnerable to being 

raped in prison, people who are 

LGBTQI+, or simply perceived to be 

LGBTQI+, are among those most at risk. 

Misogyny, homophobia and transphobia 

are rampant behind bars. In men’s 

facilities, for example, anyone seen 

as not sufficiently “manly” is routinely 

targeted. Hate crimes against LGBTQI+ 

people in the outside community is 

mirrored by the sexual abuse of LGBTQI+ 

people behind bars. This violence, 

wherever it occurs, is fuelled by the belief 

that queer people are not real “men” or 

“women”, and are therefore fair game 

for violence and abuse. 

As long as this violence is allowed to 

continue, it plays a role in preserving 

and intensifying rape culture in broader 

society. Once a male prisoner has been 

raped, for example, he is considered 

to have lost his “manhood”, while the 

perpetrator is viewed as retaining his 

masculinity. Hundreds of thousands 

of inmates who are released back into 

our communities every year – whether 

victims, perpetrators or those who have 

witnessed this violence – have been 

schooled in the notion that sexual violence 

is a hallmark of manhood ... 

– southafrica.justdetention.org 

Just Detention | Seeks to end sexual 


WHY DO YOU 

DO THIS TO US? 

WE ARE FELLOW 

HUMAN BEINGS. 

We like sex. It is natural. 

We like to look nice. To be attractive. 

We like being liked. Loved. Treasured. 

But we don’t like being hurt. Or humiliated. 

When you force yourself upon us, we are both left empty. 

Harmed. Our humanity denied. Ours and yours. 

Please love us and we will willingly engage with you. 

It is natural. But respect us if we say no. It is our right. 

Photo | iStock 

If you’ve raped a woman: find a way to ask for forgiveness and to forgive yourself 

so that you can restore your humanity and live the way we’re meant to live. 

In love. In harmony. 

Order the poster at www.southafricanconversations.co.za/shop



– Madiba 

t 

A crisis is an emergency that endangers 

someone’s life or property and that 

requires immediate attention. 

24-HOUR NATIONWIDE 

EMERGENCY HELPLINES 

Ambulance & Fire Brigade | 10177 

SA Police: for any life-threatening 

emergency | 10111 

SAPS Crime Stop | Anonymously report 

who did what, to whom, when, where, why 

and how, to any of the following | 

• The MySAPS App (free download) 

• USSD string *134*10111 # 

• SMS to Crime Line at 32211 

• Call 08600 10111 (share call) 

Difficulty with emergency services | 1022 

CALL CHARGES 

• Numbers that begin with 10 are free from 

a landline, but not from a cell phone 

• 0800 numbers are free from any phone 

• 0860 and 0861 numbers: you pay the 

cost of a local call OR a reduced flat rate 

FREE CELL PHONE CALLS 

Free calls from any cell phone for any 

emergency anywhere in SA | 112 | 

Call even if you are out of airtime or the 

phone is locked. Your call will be assigned to 

an emergency service closest to you. 

COMMERCIALLY-OWNED MEDICAL 

EMERGENCY SERVICES 

Note that although the calls are free from 

any phone, medical and other services 

provided by private companies are not. 

ER24 / Mediclinic | 084 124 

Medical Rescue | 0800 111 990 

Netcare 911 | 082 911 

EMERGENCY CALL CENTRES 

• Bisho | 040 608 2625 

• Bloemfontein | 051 405 8911 

• Cape Town | 021 480 7700 / 107 

• Durban | 031 311 1111 

• East London | 043 705 2000 

• Johannesburg 24-Hour helpline 

for all-life threatening situations | 

011 37 55 911 

• Kimberley | 053 832 4214 / 053 832 

4215 

• Klerksdorp | 018 464 1813 

• Mahikeng/Mafikeng | 018 397 5014 

• Mbombela/Nelspruit | 013 751 6000 

• Pietermaritzburg | 033 845 2420 

• Polokwane | 015 001 2010 

• Gqeberha/PE | 041 506 5555 

• Tshwane/Pretoria | 012 368 2111 

What to do 

in case of an emergency 

n 

Take a deep breath and calm down. 

n 

Look for and call a relevant 

emergency number. 

n 

Tell the person who answers that 

there is an emergency and explain: 

1 What happened, the nature 

of the emergency and a broad 

description of injuries that 

people might have. 

2 How many people were involved 

– including information about 

possible suspects. 

3 Where this happened. Give the 

exact location of the emergency. 

If possible, give the names of 

the two nearest streets that 

cross each other, or describe a 

landmark that you can see. 

n 

Now tell them your name and 

phone number, if you need help or 

if you’re just reporting the incident. 

n 

WAIT for questions. Don’t hang up! 

n 

Follow all instructions carefully. 

n 

Stay on the line until the call taker 

ends the call. 

If a listed number doesn’t work, look 

for and call an alternative number. 

CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE 

SAPS Police / Crime Stop | Anonymously 

report who did what, to whom, when, where, 

why and how | Call 10111 

• Use the MySAPS App (free download) 

• USSD string *134*10111 # 



CHILDREN 

Child Emergency Line | 0800 123 321 

ChildLine South Africa | 116 

Child Welfare SA | 074 080 8315 

Gender-based Violence Command Centre 

| Anonymous & confidential telephone 

information, counselling and referrals in 

all 11 official languages | 24-Hour, free 

helpline: 0800 GBV GBV (0800 428 428) or 

text *120*7867# (FREE from any cellphone) 

| Or SMS ‘help’ to 31531 and someone will 

call you back | Skype: ‘HelpMe GBV’ for 

members of the deaf community 

SA Police Child Protection Unit | 10111 

Safe schools | 0800 45 46 47 – learners 

report abuse, vandalism, etc. Available only 

in the Western Cape. 

TEARS Foundation | Confidential, free 

services and support for victims of rape, 

child abuse and sexual assault 

• 24/7 Free national USSD helpline: Dial 

*134*7355# for emergency assistance, 

choose option 2 and follow the prompts 

• 010 590 5920: The call is not free. They’ll 

ask for your number and call you back 

info@tears.co.za | www.tears.co.za | f 

TearsFoundationSA 

DOMESTIC ABUSE, INCEST & 

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE 

Also see RAPE elsewhere in this section, as well 

as the GENDER & VIOLENCE ISSUES pages. 



DISABILITY 

– Father Michael Lapsley 

t 

ACCESSIBILITY 

Also see INDEPENDENT LIVING & SOCIETAL 

RESTRICTIONS elsewhere in this section 

Despite constitutional protections 

and anti-discrimination measures for 

individuals with disabilities, accessibility 

in every area of life – early childhood 

development, education, transportation, 

socialization, sport, worship, and work 

– remains limited and often inaccessible 

to people with disabilities. 

Accessibility.com | Informative, USbased 

site about equal access to physical 

and digital worlds | www.accessibility.com 

| f accessibilitycom 

Disability Info South Africa | Search 

for ‘Building Regulations’ and ‘Facilities for the 

Disabled Guidelines’ | www.disabilityinfosa.co.za 

RampUp | A wonderful, resource-rich 

website to enhance inclusion, participation 

and a sense of belonging for people with 

disabilities. Useful for any organisation that 

wants to enable meaningful access and 

participation. Free downloads include: 

• General guidelines & accessibility 

checklist to facilitate inclusion 

• A framework for accessibility of church 

buildings, worship services, external 

environment, transport and activities 

• A Biblical view of disability 

erna@tlm.co.za | www.rampup.co.za | 

You 

Tube 

f RampUpSA | rampupsouthafrica 

World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) | 

Develops open standards for the Web, 

including making it more accessible to 

people with disabilities | www.w3.org > 

Web Accessibility Initiative for guidelines 

YouTube | Understanding Accessibility: 

WCAG’s 13 Guidelines with Kasey Bonifacio 

| Norman Kunc - The Right to be Disabled 

ADVOCACY & INFORMATION 

CREATE | Local, provincial, national and 

international advocacy for disability rights 

and community based rehabilitation (CBR). 

Works with disabled people’s organisations, 

groups of parents with children with 

disabilities, groups of youth with disabilities, 

and includes engagement with communities, 

municipalities and government departments 

as well as other NPOs and businesses | 

14 Hyslop Rd, Pietermaritzburg, KZN | 

033 345 5088 | admin@create-cbr.co.za 

| www.create-cbr.co.za 

Institute for the Promotion of Disabled 

Manpower (IPDM) | Advocacy and 

capacity-building for the economic 

empowerment of people with disabilities 

with regard to sustainable employment | 

Contact through website or Facebook | 

www.ipdm.co.za | f IPDMZA 

Office on the Status of Disabled Persons 

(OSDP) | Monitors & raises awareness of 

the rights of people with disabilities in the 

public sector. Capacity building for disabled 

people | Office of the Presidency, East 

Wing, Union Bldg, Tshwane/Pretoria | 012 

300 5480 / 81 | eva@po.gov.za / ria@ 

po.gov.za | www.presidency.gov.za 

People for Awareness of Disability Issues 

(PADI) | Educating / raising awareness on 

disability issues in academia & business | 

59 - 1st Ave, The Hill, Johannesburg | 011 

436 0409 | f PADI101 

South African Disability Alliance | A 

platform for issues relating to public 

perceptions of disability, as well as norms 

and standards of services and service 

delivery to persons with disabilities. Contact 

via the website | www.sada.org.za 

South African Human Rights Commission 

| Training on the United Nations Convention 

on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; 

public awareness campaigns; advocacy; 

research into strategic areas of disability, 

economic and social inclusion; monitoring 

and assessment of compliance with human 

rights obligations. Useful publications, 

including: Promoting The Right to Work of 

Persons with Disabilities: Toolkit for the Private 

Sector | Disability Toolkit for Employers 

| Braampark 33 Hoofd St, Braamfontein, 

Johannesburg | 011 877 3600 | www. 

sahrc.org.za | f SA Human Rights 

Commission 

• Eastern Cape | 3 – 33 Phillip Frame Rd, 

Waverley Park, Chiselhurst, East London | 

043 722 7828/21/25 

• Free State | 18 Kellner St, Bloemfontein 

| 051 447 1130 

• KwaZulu-Natal | 136 Margaret Mncadi, 

Durban | 031 304 7323/4/5 

• Limpopo | 29A Biccard St, Polokwane 

| 015 291 3500 

• Mpumalanga | 34 Brown St, Mbombela 

| 013 752 5890/5870 

• North West | 25 Heystek St, Rustenburg 

| 014 592 0694 

• Northern Cape | 45 Mark Rd, Ancorley 

Western Cape | ABSA Bldg, 132 

Adderley St, Cape Town | 021 426 2277 

Toolkit on Disability for Africa | Best 

practice examples from the African 

continent, and practical tools to implement 

the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons 

with Disabilities. Free download (with other 

resources) | www.un.org/development/ 

desa/disabilities/resources.html 

AUDIO & OTHER-ACCESSIBLE 

BOOKS & LEARNING-AIDS 

Also see EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: BOOKS 

elsewhere in the directory. 

Blind SA | Production of Braille materials 

| 011 839 1793 / 4 | www.blindsa.org.za 

Bookshare | A unique digital library for 

people with dyslexia, learning disabilities, 

blindness, low vision, retinitis pigmentosa, 

cerebral palsy, and other reading barriers. 

Readers can customise their experience 

with ebooks in audio, audio and highlighted 

text, braille, large font, and other formats – 

including books in 34 languages – on almost 

any device, including smartphones, tablets, 

Chromebooks, computers, and assistive 

technology devices. Find virtually any book 

for school, work or the joy of reading. Free 

and paid options | www.bookshare.org 

Digital Book | A large collection of free 

public domain audio books and ebooks | 

www.digitalbook.io 

LibriVox | Free audiobooks read by 

volunteers from all over the world | 

librivox.org 

National Support Pack | Braille learning 



DISABILITY 

materials developed by the Department 

of Basic Education for Grades R–12 | 

www.education.gov.za search for ‘Learner 

Support Package’ 

– Jim Fiebig 

Sign Language Education & Development 

(SLED) | Produces South African Sign 

Language literature and educational 

resources for Deaf children (ECD to Grade 

12) and teachers | 8A Waverley Business 

Park, Wycroft Rd, Mowbray, Cape Town | 

021 448 2520 / 082 375 3075 | info@ 

sled.org.za | www.sled.org.za 

South African Library for the Blind | 

Audio and tactile reading material for 

visually impaired readers. Find out from 

your local library how to gain free access. 

Volunteer narrators invited | 046 622 

7226 | admin@sancb.org.za | www. 

salb.org.za 

Tape Aids for the Blind | An 

Independent National Audio Library & 

Digital Production Service for blind, vision 

impaired & print-disabled persons. Over 500 

volunteer narrators & proof-readers assist 

in producing ‘Talking Books’ – including 

school text books and course materials, 

on request – in all official languages. The 

‘books’ are enabled with unique navigational 

features for easy place-finding by blind 

people. The service is entirely free. Financial 

contributions appreciated | Head Office: 

14 Mitchell Crescent, Greyville, Durban 

/ Toll-free: 0800 33 55 22 / 031 309 

4800 | Cape Town / 021 689 5983 | 

Johannesburg / 011 7866130 | Pretoria / 

012 362 5414 & Mamelodi / 012 842 3578 

| Margate / 039 312 5000 | operations@ 

tapeaids.org.za / director@tapeaids.org.za | 

www.tapeaids.com 

– Steve Maraboli 

EDUCATION AIDS 

Accessible Maths | Find out what is 

available or being worked on to provide 

multiple ways for all students to interact 

with maths content – including those who 

have learning disabilities, motor difficulties, 

and those who are blind or have low vision 

| www.diagramcenter.org/accessible-mathtools-tips-and-training.html 

How to homeschool for free | Includes 

resources for special needs learners | 

www.howtohomeschoolforfree.com 

DISABILITY MEDIA 

BBC Ouch | A website that reflects the 

lives and experiences of people from all 

over the world who live with disabilities. 

Articles, blogs, interviews, life hacks, a 

message board and more | www.bbc. 

co.uk/ouch | f Ouch.BBC 

Disability Info South Africa | An online 

directory with links to sites that deal with 

different aspects of disability, e.g.: assistive 

devices; sports & hobbies; organisations; 

government grants; accessible features; 

self help centres; transport services; 

service dogs; finding jobs, tax deductions, 

etc. | 021 761 4831 | info@disa.org. 

za | www.disabilityinfosa.co.za | f 

infodisabilitysouthafrica 

Rolling Inspiration | 

www.rollinginspiration.co.za | 

f RollingInspirationMag 

Thisability | 031 702 6871 / 061 407 

5200 | simon@thisability.co.za | 

www.thisability.co.za 

DISABILITY-SPECIFIC 

SUPPORT RESOURCES 

Also see, elsewhere in this section: 

• NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS 

• RESIDENCES & DAY CARE CENTRES 

• SCHOOLS, DAY CARE CENTRES & 

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR 

CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES 

And the following, elsewhere in the directory: 

• HEALTH 

• MENTAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH 

ALBINISM 

Albinism is a rare genetic condition that 

affects the production of melanin, the 

pigment that gives color to the skin, 

hair, and eyes. People with albinism 

may face challenges with their vision 

and may be more susceptible to skin 

cancer and it is important that they 

have access to support and resources to 

help them manage their condition and 

live healthy, fulfilling lives. 

Albinism Society of South Africa (ASSA) | 

A self-help group offering information, 

support, counselling and educational 

programmes | 187 Lara’s Place, Lilian 

Ngoyi St, JHB | 011 838 6529 | info@ 

albinism.org.za | f AlbinismZA 

Khulisa Social Solutions | Storytelling, 

peace-making and dialogue circles – 

addressing the violent and discriminatory 

behaviour that persons with albinism face 

because of ignorance and myth | 011 

788 8237 | info@khulisa.org.za | www. 

khulisa.org.za | f Khulisa Social Solutions 

You 

Tube 

| Khulisa Solutions 

YouTube | Albinism | Albinism 

Awareness Campaign | Always make your 

voice louder | People With Albinism | 

Defending the Human Rights of People with 

Albinism | Health – Albinism | People 

with Albinism - Breaking the Deadly Silence 

| Shining the light on issues faced by people 

living with albinism | The Besties With 

Albinism | Why I’m Proud of My Albinism 

Compassion for Albinism 

The Human Rights Media Centre 

offers workshops, documentaries, 

books and short stories about 

the experiences of South Africans 

living with albinism. Understanding 

creates empathy – an antidote to 

discrimination | 021 761 3303 

| media@hrmc.org.za | www. 

hrmc.org.za then select Resources & 

Services in the menu. 

AMPUTEE 

Amputee Club of South Africa | 

Prosthetic fitting, education, funding, 

prosthetic fabrication, rehab & training | 

2 Moller St, Witpoortjie, Roodepoort | 

084 442 8894 | charlb09@yahoo.com | 

Riding For A Limb | An NPO that uses 

their passion for motorcycles to raise funds 

for prosthetic limbs for amputees | 084 

442 8894 | ridingforalimb1@yahoo.com 

| f Riding For A Limb / BIKERSforBIKERS1 

f | There are a number of amputee 

support groups on Facebook. Search for 

Amputee / Amputee Support Group / 

Amputee Help. 



The effect of 

Poverty 

On Disability 

It is clear that the same disability in different 

circumstances will have a very different effect 

on an individual’s life. 

The life-chances of a poor person with a disability 

are severely affected by lack of information, 

resources, assistive devices, access to healthcare, 

education and other opportunities. 

But that’s not all: people living in poverty are 

also more likely to become disabled because of 

inadequate nutrition, poor sanitation, sub-standard 

safety, lack of information, and inadequate 

treatment of diseases – all of which in turn 

perpetuates poverty. 

v Roughly 3 million South Africans live with a disability. 

v Vision impairment in South Africa is the highest of all disabilities 

(32%) and it is estimated that 97% of all blind and partially sighted 

people in the country are unemployed. 

v More than 80% of black children with disabilities live in extreme 

poverty and have poor access to appropriate health care, 

nutrition and early childhood development support. 

v Children who live with a parent with a disability are also 

disadvantaged by the disadvantages and lack of assistance 

suffered by their parents. 

v Poverty results in many disability grants being shared by 

the whole family at the expense of care for the child with 

the disability. 

v Research indicates that violence against children with disabilities 

in the developing world occurs at rates at least 1.7 times greater 

than against their able-bodied peers. 

v Children and young people with disabilities face multiple barriers, 

discrimination and exclusion in education and training. Human 

Rights Watch estimated in 2015 that over 600,000 children with 

disabilities are not in the school system in South Africa. Black 

children form the biggest part of this group, reinforcing cycles of 

poverty, disability and marginalisation. 

n


A challenge to affluent families 

who have a child with a disability 

Only you know the stress, sorrow, emotional 

ups and downs, the financial impact, the silent 

despair, the heartache and the all-consuming 

exhaustion that comes from taking care of a 

special needs child. 

Here is a challenge that will demand even more 

of you, that will require you to step outside 

your comfort-zone and outside your normal 

boundaries. Yet it is a challenge that could bring 

immense healing, joy and love to your world. 

Find a family in the ever-present township on the 

outskirts of your town that has a child with the 

same or similar disability as your child. It takes 

compassionate insight to begin to understand 

the plight of a family taking care of a child with 

a disability, living on the fringes of society in a 

disadvantaged community. 

You are uniquely qualified to do that. 

Befriend that family. Share your knowledge, 

expertise, information and resources with this 

family. Walk a mile in their shoes. See if you 

can help them access the support, care and 

education that you demand and probably take 

for granted for your own child. 

Start a support group for all families struggling 

with disability in your municipal area. Start a 

community volunteer group to help give the 

parents a break from the constant demand on 

their time and attention. 

Photo | Sally Dimartini 

Acknowledge the life lessons that will inevitably 

be learnt on both sides. Write and let us know 

what transpires. 

n 

Input into the Disability articles: Portia Lefera. People at the Chaeli Campaign. Information supplied by the Department of Women, 

Children and People with Disabilities. Sources: Enabling reform, Why supporting children with disabilities must be at the heart 

of successful child care reform. Published by Every Child and Better Care Network | Free Wheeling published by the Regional 

Rehabilitation Research Institute on Attitudinal, Legal and Leisure Barriers, Washington, D.C. | Disability etiquette. Tips On 

Interacting With People With Disabilities published by United Spinal Association, www.unitedspinal.org/publications | 

www.ncppdsa.org.za | www.nappyrun.org.za | www.rampup.co.za | www.padi.za.org | Compiled by Therésa Müller


EDUCATION: 

South African-specific resources are marked in red 

– Michael J. Gelb 

An exciting adventure awaits those who enter these pages. 

t 

We’ve scoured the internet to bring 

you the best, most high-quality lesson 

plans and content for every subject 

under the sun. 

Most of what is listed in the Education 

pages are Open Educational 

Resources, which means they are 

freely available for use, reuse, 

adaptation and sharing by educators 

and students. Many similar resources 

– sometimes of inferior quality – are 

being sold in South Africa. 

So, dip in. Figure out which of these 

amazing tools and resources are 

relevant for you. One small entry 

could revolutionise your teaching – 

enriching your and your students’ 

learning experience. 

GENERAL CONTENT FOR ALL 

SUBJECTS, FOR ALL CLASSES 

Also see EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT 

(ECD) CAPACITY-BUILDING in the CHILD 

WELFARE pages 

Tip: If an organisation has a 

newsletter, sign up! You will gain 

invaluable updated information on a 

regular basis – free of charge. 

2Enable | By the same non-profit that 

created the 2Enable electronic platform. 

Register for free easy-to-access, good 

quality, South African curriculum-aligned 

basic education content developed by 

qualified teachers. Includes thousands of 

videos that focus on explaining concepts. 

Can operate wholly online, partially online 

and entirely offline. Access it via the website 

or download the 2Enable app for use on 

a mobile phone | 013 751 3135 | 

info@2Enable.org | www.2enable.org | 

f 2Enable 

Adobe Education Exchange | Designed 

by educators for educators, learners and 

parents. Resources are presented by grade 

level and subject areas | edex.adobe. 

com/ 

Amazing Educational Resources | 

Over 1,000 of the best educational 

resources from around the world for 

pre-school to high school and adult 

learning, plus an online calendar of events 

with webinars, lessons, and classes for 

teachers, parents and students | www. 

amazingeducationalresources.com 

Annenberg Learner | Free online 

classroom resources, educational video 

programmes and coordinated online and 

print materials for art, English, mathematics, 

science, social studies & history and STEM/ 

STEAM. Free to pre-school to Grade 12 

teachers and learners | www.learner.org/ 

classroom-resources 

A to Z Teacher Stuff | Online 

lesson plans, thematic units, teacher 

tips, downloadable teaching materials, 

discussion forums for teachers | www. 

atozteacherstuff.com 

BBC Teach | Thousands of free videos 

and audio files, arranged by age-group and 

subject | www.bbc.co.uk/teach 

CK-12 | Free, highly customisable preschool 

to Grade 12 lessons in science, 

physics, chemistry, biology, math, social 

studies, history, geography, philosophy, 

photography +, plus time-saving teaching 

tools | www.ck12.org 

Classroom Solutions | FREE teaching 

resources. Pre-school to High school | 

classroomsolutions.co.za 

CliffsNotes | Free study guides for 

English, Biology, Algebra, Economics, 

Accounting Principles +, written by teachers 

and professors to aid students with 

homework and preparation for exams | 

www.cliffsnotes.com 

Course Hero | Free study guides for 15 

different subjects ranging from STEM to 

Social Sciences to Literature. Core topics 

are broken down into smaller sections and 

contain videos, infographics, vocabulary, 

reading recommendations and practice 

problems | www.coursehero.com/sg/ 

CrashCourse | A high-quality educational 

YouTube channel. Subjects include: algebra, 

composition, organic chemistry, literature, 

world history, biology, philosophy, theatre, 

ecology and more. 

– William Butler Yeats 

(A pail is a bucket) 

Curriculum Pathways | Free interactive 

resources to supplement instruction 

in English Language Arts & Reading, 

Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, World 

Languages, Computer Science | www. 

curriculumpathways.com 

Curriki | Educator-vetted, openly 

licensed, online educational materials for 

free use, reuse, adaptation and sharing. 

Pre-school to Grade 12: all subject areas 

| www.curriki.org / library.curriki.org / 

library.curriki.org/resources-curricula 

Discovery Education | An extensive 

array of free and paid high-quality 

resources, ready-to-use digital lessons, 

creative collaboration tools, and practical 

professional learning resources | www. 

You 

Tube 

discoveryeducation.com | Discovery 

Education 

E-Learning for kids | Free, fun, quality, 

curriculum-based, digital primary education 

for children worldwide | www.elearningforkids.org 

Engage New York | Free resources for 

language arts and mathematics. Pre-school 

to Grade 12 | www.engageny.org 



PRIMARY & SECONDARY SCHOOL SUBJECT RESOURCES 

Free Training Tutorial | Maths games, 

typing, spelling & vocabulary, grammar & 

writing, mindfulness & life skills for kids | 

www.free-training-tutorial.com 

Funbrain | Hundreds of free educational 

games, books, comics and videos that 

develop skills in maths, reading, problemsolving 

and literacy. Grade R – 8 | www. 

funbrain.com 

Global Oneness Project | Brings the 

world to your classroom with free awardwinning 

films, photo-essays, articles, 

companion lesson plans, exercises and 

assignments, collaborative discussion 

questions, reflective writing prompts 

and more. Lesson plans are set for high 

school students, but can be adapted for 

elementary and middle school use. Subjects: 

African Studies, Animals, Anthropology, 

Architecture, Art, Art history, Asian studies, 

Biology, Botany, Communications, Creative 

writing, Cultural anthropology, Drama, 

Ecology, Economics, English, Environmental 

studies, Film, Geography, Government, 

Healthcare, History, Humanities, Japanese, 

Journalism, Literature, Modern world 

studies, Music studies, Native American 

studies, Philosophy, Photography, Physics, 

Poetry, Political science, Psychology, 

Religion, Skills for Health, Social Studies, 

Sociology, Spanish, Theatre Studies, 

Women’s Studies, World Languages. 

Completely free of charge! | www. 

globalonenessproject.org 

Google Teaching Resources | Free 

lesson plans, activities, apps, online 

platforms, courses, guides & instructional 

tools on the following topics: reading, 

coding & computer science; creativity; digital 

literacy; family engagement; language, arts 

& culture; STEM and more | edu.google. 

com/teaching-resources 

Great Minds | US curriculum lesson 

plans, core & supplemental materials, video 

series. Maths, English, science & history, as 

well as professional development. Free and 

paid options | www.greatminds.org 

Highlights Kids | Free, fun learning 

activities, games, jokes, quizzes, puzzles, 

answers to science questions, crafts, 

recipes, etc. | www.highlightskids.com 

also download the free app 

Khan Academy | Free, world-class 

teacher resources and education for preschool 

to high-school students anywhere. 

Subjects include: maths, science, arts 

& humanities, economics, reading and 

language arts, and life skills | www. 

You 

Tube 

khanacademy.org | Khan Academy and 

download the free app 

Khan Academy Kids | A website and 

mobile app with reading, language, maths, 

etc. for toddlers to first graders. Free | 

khankids.zendesk.com/hc/en-us 

Lalilo | A web-based online learning tool 

for pre-school, 1st and 2nd grade teachers 

and students. Free and paid content | 

www.lalilo.com 

Mindset | Online videos to introduce 

content, concepts and skills. Includes 

curriculum for Primary School (Grade 1–7). 

Limited content for Grade 8–9. Substantial 

focus on subjects for Grade 10–12 learners: 

English, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, 

Life Sciences, Accounting, Maths Literacy, 

Geography | learn.mindset.africa | 

You 

Tube 

f Mindset Learn and Mindset TV | 

Mindset and Mindset Teach | Download 

two apps by the same company: Mindset & 

Ten Fold Education 

Merlot | Curated online learning and 

support materials and content creation 

tools, led by an international community 

of educators, learners and researchers | 

www.merlot.org 

Mr. Nussbaum | Over 10,000 free, fun 

online games, tutorials, simulations, videos 

and interactive activities. (Grades R–8) | 

www.mrnussbaum.com | f MrNussbaum 

National Geographic | Free, beautiful 

and globally comprehensive classroom 

resources including lesson plans, maps, 

reference resources, videos, activities 

and Explorer Magazine for pre-school 

to Grade 12 & be. Subjects include 

Geography, Earth Science, Biology, Social 

Studies, Conservation, Arts & Music, 

Anthropology, Engineering, Experiential 

Learning, English Language Arts, Storytelling, 

Physics, Mathematics, Religion, Chemistry, 

Professional Learning, English as a Second 

Language | www.nationalgeographic.org/ 

education / kids.nationalgeographic.com 

/ www.natgeokids.com and, for information 

particular to South Africa: www.natgeokids. 

You 

Tube 

com/za | National Geographic and 

360° National Geographic 

National Geographic Kids | A free, 

pupil-focused and interdisciplinary 

resource for young children. Subjects 

include: English, Maths, Science, 

Geography, History, Art and Culture. 

Includes teacher support | www. 

natgeokids.com 

National Support Pack | A multi-media 

teaching and learning resource – including 

Braille materials – developed by the 

Department of Basic Education to support 

learning at home. Grades R–12 | www. 

education.gov.za | Search for ‘Learner 

Support Package’ 

NeoK12 | Free educational videos, 

games, puzzles and lessons for children 

of all ages, reviewed by teachers | www. 

neok12.com 

Open Culture | An impressive collection 

of free cultural and educational content 

available on the web: art, academic courses, 

audio books, business courses, children’s 

books, comic books, e-books, great lectures, 

language lessons, movies, music, philosophy 

books, podcasts, textbooks, pre-school 

to Grade 12 educational resources: video 

lessons, apps, books and more. Sign up for 

their free email for a daily dose of wellwritten 

articles and links to free resources 

| www.openculture.com 

Open Educational Resources (OER) 

Commons | Free digital teaching 

and learning materials. Search, browse, 

evaluate and use the growing collection of 

over 50,000 high-quality OER Commons 

resources, including full university courses, 

interactive mini-lessons and simulations, 

adaptations of existing open work, open 

textbooks and Grade R–12 lesson plans, 

worksheets and activities | www. 

oercommons.org 

PBS Kids | The video section of the 

website is restricted to the US, but the 

games section is open to all. Designed to 

improve early literacy, maths, engineering 

and social-emotional skills. Ages 2 to 11 | 

www.pbskids.org | Download numerous 

free PBS Kids apps on your phone 

PBS Learning Media | FREE, standardsaligned 

videos, interactives, lesson plans +. 

Science, social studies, mathematics, 

English, language arts, engineering & 

technology, health & physical education, the 

arts, world languages. Grade R–12 | www. 

pbslearningmedia.org 



EDUCATION: 

CHILDREN’S BOOKS ... AND A GAME 

– Dr. Seuss 

DIGITAL 

African Storybook | Free access to 

picture storybooks for young readers, 

in the languages of Africa. Read online, 

download and print, translate & adapt, or 

create your own storybook | Saide, 19 

Ameshoff St, Braamfontein, JHB | 011 

403 2813 | africanstorybook@saide. 

org.za | www.africanstorybook.org 

CareUp | An Android app with a 

library of free, fun stories for parents and 

teachers of 3-5 year-olds. Available in 

Afrikaans, English, Xhosa and Zulu to read 

to children from your phone! | www. 

careup.mobi 

Classicly | Free, digitized versions 

of the most popular works of famous 

authors that are now in the public domain 

| www.classicly.com 

Epic! | A digital reading platform with 

40,000+ popular books from 250+ of the 

world’s best publishers, plus videos & 

quizzes. For kids up to 12. Free access for 

educators | www.getepic.com 

Harry Potter Reading Club | Free 

access to the fun and fantasy of Harry’s 

world through excerpts from the books, 

literary discussion guides, quizzes and 

activities. The books themselves are not 

free | hpread.scholastic.com 

International Children’s Digital 

Library Foundation | A collection of 

the best historical and contemporary 

children’s literature from around the 

world, available online, free of charge | 

en.childrenslibrary.org 

Novel Effect | A free, award-winning 

app that brings a large selection of books 

to life with music, sound effects and 

character voices. As you read aloud, Novel 

Effect follows the sound of your voice and 

responds at just the right moment | 

www.noveleffect.com 

Storyberries | A large collection of free 

quality stories, poems, fairy tales & comics 

for children | www.storyberries.com 

Storyline Online | Actors and famous 

people read storybooks for pre-schoolers 

to Grade 3, on Vimeo. Free. Includes 

activity guides for parents and teachers 

| www.storylineonline.net 

PRINTED 

Biblionef | Schools, pre-schools, 

children’s homes, refugee camps or any 

organisation with a socio-educational 

focus can request storybooks in one or 

more of South Africa’s official languages 

to be sent to them. Priority is given to 

organisations in remote rural areas, 

townships and informal settlements. 

Application guidelines on website | 4 

Central Square, Pinelands, Cape Town | 

021 531 0447 | info@biblionefsa.org.za 

| www.biblionefsa.org.za 

Help2Read | Organises volunteer 

reading tutors plus free Book Boxes filled 

with quality age-appropriate books for 

disadvantaged learners in public primary 

schools across South Africa | 079 

615 1633 | info@help2read.org | 

help2read.org/ 

Project for the Study of Alternative 

Education in South Africa (PRAESA) 

| Multilingual early childhood language 

and literacy development to ensure that 

young children (birth to 9 years) from 

all language and cultural backgrounds 

have access to books and opportunities 

to read. Supports other initiatives that 

promote reading | 3 Marlow Rd, 

Kenilworth, Cape Town | info@praesa. 

org.za | www.praesa.org.za 

The Bookery | Sets up school libraries 

with diverse content for young readers 

of all ages and languages, across South 

Africa. Recruits, trains and supports 

librarians and library assistants to run the 

libraries. Accepts and distributes book 

donations | The Woodstock Exchange, 

66 Albert Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town | 

021 461 4189 | infothebookery.org. 

za | Apply online for a library for your 

school | www.thebookery.org.za 

Also see EDUCATION: ACCESS TO BOOKS elsewhere in the directory 

DIGITAL & PRINTED 

Book Dash | A publishing model 

that harnesses the skills of professional 

creative volunteers to vastly reduce 

the time and costs involved in creating 

beautiful new books for children under 

the age of five. The books are available 

to read on the website, free of charge, 

in all official South African languages. 

Book Dash sources funding to print the 

books, and gives them away through early 

childhood development organisations 

- for free - to children to own. Apply via 

website | www.bookdash.org 

Nal’ibali (Xhosa for “Here’s the story”) | 

Promotes multilingualism and reading 

and writing in one’s mother tongue. 

Reading clubs and events. A rich online 

database of stories, searchable by 

language: Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, Pedi, 

Sotho, Tswana, Tsonga and English. 

Material can be read online, downloaded 

or sent to a Post Office pick-up point | 

021 448 6000 | Read Nal’ibali stories 

free on WhatsApp: type ‘stories’ to 0600 

44 22 54 and choose from a range of 

stories in five languages | Nal’ibali web 

and mobi sites are zero-rated and can 

be accessed free of charge on all major 

networks | www.nalibali.mobi | www. 

nalibali.org | f Nal’ibali SA 


in the CHILD WELFARE pages, as well as 

EDUCATION: ACCESS TO BOOKS elsewhere in 

the EDUCATION pages. 

BRAIN STIMULATION GAME! 

Finding Thabo | A free, interactive 

play-based game that stimulates key parts 

of the brain and builds a foundation for 

lifelong learning in early childhood | f 

FindingThabo | Click on ‘Send Message’ 

to get started.


PRIMARY & SECONDARY SCHOOL SUBJECT RESOURCES 

Primary Resources | Free English, 

Math, Science, ICT, History, Geography, Art, 

Music, etc. lesson plans, activity ideas and 

resources for primary school teachers | 

www.primaryresources.co.uk 

– Malcolm X 

School Kit | A New Zealand-based 

site with hundreds of beautiful, free, 

downloadable resources, stories, videos and 

ideas for teachers and parents | www. 

schoolkit.co.nz 

TED Ed | Shares teacher and student 

ideas and knowledge from around the 

world. Lesson plans and video-based 

lessons are organised by age, subject or 

themes | ed.ted.com and blog.ed.ted.com 

The Learning Network | Publishes 

about 1,000 teaching resources each school 

year, using content from the New York 

Times – articles, essays, images, videos, 

graphics and podcasts – as teaching tools 

for middle and high school teachers and 

students. Topics range from science to 

sports, music, the environment, current 

events, world issues +. Resources include 

daily lessons, weekly quizzes, geography 

quizzes, lesson plans, student opinion 

questions for discussion and writing 

exercises – all designed to promote critical 

and creative thinking. Most of the resources 

are free, though lesson plans are limited 

to five per month for nonsubscribers | 

www.nytimes.com/section/learning | f 

nytimeslearning 

The Teacher’s Corner | A collection 

of educational worksheets, lesson plans, 

activities and resources for teachers and 

parents | www.theteacherscorner.net 

The Teacher’s Guide | Free maths, 

reading, writing, science, social studies, 

art and music lesson plans, worksheets 

and activities for primary school | www. 

theteachersguide.com 

TweenTribune | A free online 

educational service offered by the 

Smithsonian for use by Grade R–12 teachers 

and students | www.tweentribune.com 

Twinkl | Educational resources for 

those who teach in schools and at home. 

Afrikaans, English, Xhosa and Zulu. Free and 

paid options | www.twinkl.co.za 

Vodacom E-school | Free content for 

everyone. Vodacom c ustomers don’t pay 

for data to access the school. All material 

is developed by expert teachers, available 

in multiple languages, CAPS aligned, covers 

all major subjects from Grade R-12, and is 

endorsed by the Department of Education. 

Register via the website | vodacom. 

mytopdog.co.za 

WCED Online | An extraordinary 

education e-portal built by the Western 

Cape Department of Education. Resources 

for learners, parents, teachers, school 

administrators and partners in education 

| www.wcedeportal.co.za | f WCED 

eLearning 

Wide Open School | A learning resource 

for families and teachers, containing free, 

high-quality videos, webinars and other 

materials to help make distance learning 

more effective and engaging for pre-school 

to Grade 12 students. Subjects: Art, music & 

DIY, Digital citizenship, emotional well-being, 

English language learners, field trips, get 

moving, life skills, maths, offline activities, 

reading & writing, science, social studies | 

www.wideopenschool.org 

Wonderopolis | Award-winning, free site 

with fun, multi-disciplinary content suitable 

for Grade R–12. Explore a new Wonder 

of the Day every day or dip into the large 

collection of Wonders for your subject or 

class | www.wonderopolis.org | 

• Camp Wonderopolis | Interactive 

STEM and literacy-building topics | 

camp.wonderopolis.org 

• Wonder Ground | Classroom 

resources and lesson plans | 

wg.wonderopolis.org 

Wikipedia | Search for information on 

any subject | www.wikipedia.org 

Xpert | Learners and educators can 

search a growing database of open learning 

resources suitable for students at all levels 

of study in a wide range of different subjects 

| www.nottingham.ac.uk/xpert/ 

SUBJECT-SPECIFIC CONTENT 

Also see the DISABILITY pages in the directory 

for resources for learners with disabilities. 

ART & CULTURE 

Artsonia Kids Art Museum | A free 

online art museum of student art, published 

by teachers and students from around the 

world | www.artsonia.com 



As a parent | 

Read to your child from a very young 

age. Can’t read? Ask a teenager in your 

community to read to your child for 10 

minutes every day. Both will benefit. 

Regularly take your child to a library. 

As a concerned onlooker | 

Pay decent salaries, so that the people 

who work for you can afford to buy 

books for their children. 

Donate quality books to a poor school, a 

children’s hospital, a women’s shelter or 

an NPO that distributes books to schools 

& orphanages. 

Sponsor the publication of African 

language books. 

Sponsor a library or a librarian. 

Start an aftercare programme with 

a library for at-risk youth in your 

community. Pay unemployed graduates 

to teach English, read to the kids, listen 

to them read, and help with homework. 

Are you a retired librarian, educator or 

lover of books? Tutor struggling students 

or volunteer at a school library. 

Develop programmes to stimulate 

creativity in your community – in 

conjunction with library staff, local artists, 

painters, sculptors, musicians, dancers, 

authors and poets. Pay the ‘creatives’. 

As a school | 

Subscribe to the free newsletter from 

the South African Book Development 

Council | www.sabookcouncil.co.za 

Promote reading events, such as 

National Library Week, National Book 

Week, and reading competitions. 

Start a book club in your school, with a 

book of the week for every age group. 

As a business | 

Build a library – complete with shelves, 

furniture, computers, printers & Wi-Fi – 

at a school that doesn’t have one. 

Start a fund to buy books for the library. 

Regularly service the library’s equipment. 

Create a Reading Room (not a lending 

library) at your place of work where 

people from the community can come 

and read for pleasure. 

Create day-care and after-care facilities 

with lots of books for employees’ 

children, at your place of work. 



EDUCATION: RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS & EDUCATORS 

South African-specific resources are marked in red 

t 

AFTER SCHOOL SUPPORT 

The Learning Trust | Funding, coaching, 

skills-sharing, networking opportunities and 

guided organisational support to develop 

quality practitioners and sustainable 

After School programmes that improve 

educational outcomes of young people living 

in poverty and exclusion | 173 Oxford 

Rd, Rosebank, Johannesburg | Complete 

an online form or contact via email | 

info@thelearningtrust.org | www. 

thelearningtrust.org | f thelearningtrust 

You 

Tube 

| The Learning Trust - Official 



(ECD) CAPACITY-BUILDING in the 

CHILD WELFARE pages 

Bridge-Linking Innovators in Education 

| Facilitates collaboration, cooperation and 

the sharing of knowledge, best practices, 

resources and tools among educators to 

improve the quality of teaching in SA | 6 

Blackwood Ave, Parktown, Jhb | 011 403 

6401 | info@bridge.org.za | www. 

bridge.org.za | f BridgeProjectSA 

Department of Basic Education (DBE) | 

Oversees the SA school education system in 

schools from Grade R to Grade 12. 

Downloadable resources for learners, 

parents, teachers, researchers, school 

admin, etc. Use the search function to find 

what you’re looking for | 222 Struben 

St, Pretoria, Gauteng | Call Centre: 0800 

202 933 / Switchboard: 012 357 3000 | 

callcentre@dbe.gov.za / webmaster@dbe. 

gov.za | www.education.gov.za 

Thutong National Education Portal | 

An online point of entry to a comprehensive 

array of free educational resources, policy 

information and interactive services 

concerning all aspects of South African 

schools. Information for curriculum and 

teacher development as well as school 

administration and management | 

www.thutong.doe.gov.za 

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 

- Chinese Proverb 

| A UN agency responsible for providing 

humanitarian and developmental aid to 

vulnerable children worldwide. Resourcerich 

website. Search for anything you want 

to know regarding children and youth, 

e.g. ‘cyber-bullying’ or ‘early childhood 

development’ or ‘parenting’ or ‘teacher 

development’ | www.unicef.org 

- Unknown 

Youth Potential South Africa (YOUPSA) 

| Rural youth and teacher development 

programme. Empowerment, leadership and 

team building for students, teachers and 

school governing bodies. Promotes health 

with community gardens | Gamtoos Valley 

area northwest of Gqeberha/PE, Eastern 

Cape Province | 076 123 3832 | info@ 

youpsa.org | www.youpsa.org 

Zero Dropout Campaign | A national 

campaign working towards halving the rate 

of school dropouts by 2030! Resource-rich 

website for learners, parents, educators, 

schools & policy-makers | WhatsApp 0600 

54 0000 | info@zerodropout.co.za | 

www.zerodropout.co.za | f zerodropoutcampaign 

| Zero Dropout 

You 

Tube 

Campaign 

Children Have Rights! 

In 1989, world leaders signed a 

historic, legally binding international 

agreement to affirm the rights of the 

world’s children. South Africa signed 

the Convention in 1993 and ratified 

it on 16 June, 1995. The website 

contains resources for teachers 

and parents, as well as child-friendly 

posters that spell out the Rights of 

the Child | www.unicef.org/childrights-convention 

| www.unicef. 

org/child-rights-convention 

Corporal Punishment 

“In 1996, the South African Schools 

Act, under Section 10, banned the use 

of corporal punishment in schools. 

In 2000 this was confirmed in the 

Christian Education case. 

Despite the ban on corporal 

punishment 20 years ago, teachers 

are still hitting children at school. 

It is illegal.” 

– Section27 

Download Chapter 19 of the 

BASIC EDUCATION RIGHTS 

HANDBOOK: Corporal Punishment 

by Faranaaz Veriava and Tina Power 

https://section27.org.za > Search for 

Basic Education Rights Handbook 

then find the relevant chapter. 

– Shakira 

EDUCATION RIGHTS 

Basic Education Rights Handbook | 

Developed by Section27 in collaboration 

with partner organisations. This important 

Handbook is a free legal literacy tool to 

empower communities, school governing 

bodies, principals, teachers and learners to 

understand education law and policy and to 

protect learners’ rights. Chapters include: 

1. The Constitution and the Right to a Basic 

Education. 

2. Funding Basic Education. 

3. School governance. 

4. Equality and unfair discrimination. 

5. The right to basic education for children 



EDUCATION: RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS & EDUCATORS 

with disabilities. 

6. The rights of refugees & migrant workers. 

7. School fees. 

8. Pregnancy. 

9. Sexual orientation and gender identity. 

10. Religion and culture in public education. 

11. Language in schools. 

12. Basic education provisioning. 

13. Infrastructure and equipment. 

14. Post provisioning. 

15. Textbooks. 

16. Scholar transport. 

17. School violence. 

18. Sexual violence in schools. 

19. Corporal punishment. 

20. Education rights in independent schools. 

21. Taking rights forward 

Read or download relevant chapters or 

the whole book at https://section27.org. 

za > Search for Basic Education Rights 

Handbook 

EQUIPMENT & 

INFRASTRUCTURE 

Also see THE BASIC EDUCATION RIGHTS 

HANDBOOK elsewhere in this section 

Adopt-a-School Foundation | Are 

you a state-funded school in need of 

academic, management, infrastructure 

or security improvements? Call to apply 

for support. There is no cost to qualifying 

schools | Are you a concerned individual, 

business owner or corporation wanting 

to contribute to environments conducive 

to learning and teaching in our country? 

Adopt a school and help the Foundation 

provide: adequate classrooms, access to 

electricity, administration facilities, Science 

Labs, Computer Labs, libraries, playgrounds, 

sports facilities, clean running water and 

sanitation, well-maintained buildings, food 

gardens, security, teaching equipment & 

resources, plus eye-testing, spectacles, 

hearing aids, wheelchairs, etc | 18 Acacia 

Rd, Chislehurston, Sandton | 011 592 

6430 | info@adoptaschool.co.za | 

www.adoptaschool.org.za 

Breadline Africa | Builds ECD 

classrooms, toilets, kitchens and preschool 

libraries across South Africa, 

using converted shipping containers and 

prefabricated units. Apply online | 1 

Platinum Park, Capricorn Business Park, 

Muizenberg, Cape Town | 021 418 0322 

| info@breadlineafrica.org | www. 

breadlineafrica.org | f breadlineafrica 

Computer Aid International – South 

Africa | 1. Provides tested, fully 

refurbished PCs at much-reduced prices to 

schools & NPOs. Includes a licensed copy of 

Microsoft Office. 2. In partnership with Dell 

installs solar-powered computer/internet/ 

technology learning labs in resource poor 

communities where there may not be 

electricity. Training included | Apply for 

computers or for a SolarLab for your school 

or community by email to southafrica@ 

computeraid.org or apply online | www. 

computeraid.org 

SA Medical & Education Foundation 

(SAME Foundation) | Assists schools 

in poverty-stricken communities in 

Gauteng, KZN, Limpopo and the Western 

Cape, with infrastructure, equipment and 

furniture | Head office: 4 Loop St, Cape 

Town, South Africa | 086 122 2379 | 

info@samefoundation.org.za | www. 

samefoundation.org.za | f S.A. MEDICAL 

& EDUCATION FOUNDATION 

The African Show Coalition Institute 

(TASCI) | A volunteer-based NPO that 

works with townships, peri-urban and 

rural communities to help foster socially 

cohesive bonds, restore the dignity and 

humanity of learners and teachers, and 

provide support to schools that need 

electricity, equipment and infrastructure 

| 348 Schafli Rd, Glen Stewart, East 

London | Contact via website | info@ 

tasci.org.za | www.tasci.org.za | f 

theafricanshowcoalitioninstitute 

Vodacom | Every month, Vodacom 

donates four Mobile Computer Centres 

to deserving schools somewhere in South 

Africa. The donation is comprised of a 

mobile trolley with 21 laptops, a printer, an 

overhead projector, an interactive white 

board, software and training. Complete an 

online form to enter your school for the 

draw | www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/ 

services/computer-centres 

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 

Citizen Leader Lab | Innovative 

leadership development models, including 

a nationwide, 12-month leadership 

development programme that partners 

business leaders and school principals 

from under-resourced schools, equipping 

the principal with knowledge and skills to 

lead change and improve the quality of 

education provided to learners | Cape 

Town: 021 913 2054 | Johannesburg: 011 

259 4031 | info@citizenleaderlab.org 

| www.citizenleaderlab.org | f Citizen 

Leader Lab 

– Victor Hugo 

LEGAL SUPPORT 

Equal Education (EE) | Draws attention 

to problems faced by schools and their 

communities, to address systemic 

inequalities in the South African education 

system and to coordinate strategies, 

advocacy and action to bring about 

sustained change. Includes a resource 

section | 

• Gauteng | EE, Office 1001, East 

Rand Junction, 23 Frank Rd, Boksburg 

| 081 510 2384 | info.gauteng@ 

equaleducation.org.za 

• Western Cape | Isivivana Centre, 8 

Mzala St, Khayelitsha | 021 361 0127 

info@equaleducation.org.za | www. 

equaleducation.org.za | f equal. 

education 

Equal Education Law Centre (EELC) | 

EELC lawyers are on hand to provide legal 

materials and strategic litigation to advance 

equality and quality education. Resources 

include comprehensive information under 

Know Your Rights, covering corporal 

punishment, disciplinary hearings, the 

right to protest, pregnancy and the right to 

education, water and sanitation in schools, 

unlawfully withholding a learner’s report, fee 

exemptions and much more | Isivivana 

Centre, 8 Mzala St, Khayelitsha, Cape Town 

| 021 461 1421 / 0800 110 752 | info@ 

eelawcentre.org.za | www.eelawcentre. 

org.za | f EqualEducationLawCentre 

SECTION 27 | A public interest law 

centre that seeks to achieve equality and 

social justice in South Africa. Guided by the 



EDUCATION: RESOURCES FOR LIFELONG LEARNING 

South African-specific educational resources are marked in red 

t 

– Louis L’Amour 

There are hundreds of education resources on the internet – available free of charge to anyone who signs 

up, regardless of whether they have matric or whether they’re 18 or 80. It is a worldwide revolution that is 

making knowledge freely available to all who want to educate themselves. 

You can go through the entire degree programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (yes, MIT!) 

completely free of charge. 

Universities and colleges around the world have for some time already been making knowledge available 

online at greatly reduced fees and sometimes completely free of charge. Free offerings are referred to as 

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) or Open Educational Resources (OER). The pandemic has further 

forced huge portions of academic and business education online. 

Carefully research and compare what is available. Some institutions offer entirely free study options, 

complete with a certificate. Some offer a mixture of free and paid options. Some make their money from 

charging a fee for the actual qualification assessment – that’s if you want the certificate or degree you 

studied for. So, the knowledge is free, but without certification. Some charge a nominal registration fee. 

Some do not offer certification unless one attends in person. Knowledge – even without a certificate – is 

not necessarily a bad option because it can open doors to entrepreneurship, increased self-confidence, a 

raise if you are one of the lucky ones with a job, and even employment if you can demonstrate that you 

know what you’re talking about. 

Be aware that exchange rates for nominal fees may render some seemingly attractive international 

options just as expensive as attending a local university full-time. Also, be aware that some institutions 

are more credible than others. Some are businesses and some are educational institutions. Some are 

internationally accredited and some are not. Carefully consider what you aim to achieve before investing 

your money or your time. 

However one views this, the trend toward free access to knowledge is an incredible opportunity for people 

all over the world to become educated, regardless of location, age or qualifications – as long as they have 

a computer to work on and access to the internet. What’s going to matter in the end is the ability to apply 

that knowledge – not the piece of paper that certifies that one has jumped through the hoops to get it. 

This is a new world. Go on and explore. And become educated! 

– Jim Rohn 

Many of the amazing resources listed under SUBJECT-SPECIFIC CONTENT in the EDUCATION: PRIMARY & SECONDARY SCHOOL 

SUBJECT RESOURCES pages are relevant for study at any age. Take a look.


EDUCATION: RESOURCES FOR LIFELONG LEARNING 

South Africa’s four mobile operators all offer 

free access to education websites (and more) | 

• MTN | OpenTime 

• Vodacom | ConnectU 

• Cell C | CONNECT4FREE 

• Telkom / 8ta | Zero Rated Websites 

STUDY OPTIONS, CAREER GUIDANCE, 

BURSARIES & FUNDING SOURCES 

The organisations listed below provide 

resources for matriculants including 

career guidance, study options, 

application requirements, fees, 

qualifications on offer, free courses, 

funding options, mentoring and 

work-readiness support. You can also 

apply for financial aid directly from 

the university’s Financial Aid Office or 

Student Support Center once accepted. 

All Bursaries South Africa | 

Comprehensive information about available 

bursaries | www.allbursaries.co.za 

Bursaries South Africa (BSA) | A searchengine 

for all available bursaries in South 

Africa | www.bursaries-southafrica.co.za 

| f bursariessouthafrica 

Bursary24.com | Information, bursaries, 

application forms + | www.bursary24.com 

Career Planet | Career advice & access 

to training and work opportunities | www. 

careerplanet.co.za 

College Guide | Info about SA colleges 

and universities | www.collegeguide.co.za 

Domino Foundation | Offers a 

mentorship / bursary programme | KZN 

| 031 563 9605 | admin@domino.org. 

za | www.dominofoundation.org.za/skillsdevelopment 

| f thedominofoundation 

EduConnect | Info about institutions, 

careers, study options, subject choices, 

funding options, work readiness and more 

| www.educonnect.co.za 

Epilepsy South Africa Educational Trust 

| Bursaries for persons with epilepsy | 

www.epilepsy.org.za > educational-trust 

Fundi | Loans and funding solutions 

| 0860 55 55 44 | 011 670 6100 | 

support@fundi.co.za | www.fundi.co.za 

Funza Lushaka Bursary | To become 

a teacher. The recipient must work for the 

Department of Education for the same 

amount of time as the bursary sponsorship 

| www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za 



Help a bright student in grade 11 

or matric apply for a bursary or 

scholarship to an institution of higher 

learning. The process is intimidating 

and needs someone to help keep 

track of the different requirements, 

correspondence and responses. It also 

needs unlimited access to the internet. 

Make sure a struggling student has the 

following tools to ensure their success: 

n 

A desk, chair, study lamp & bookcase 

n 

A computer/laptop with a charger, 

external hard-Dr and good quality 

headphones 

n 

A good internet connection 

n 

Data and airtime – always 

n 

A smartphone 

n 

A fridge – to keep food fresh 

n 

A monthly supply of multi-vitamins 

n 

Someone to talk to 

n 

A copy of this directory, so that they 

can easily access useful resources. 

Go Study | Career guidance & info about 

scholarships and bursaries. Incredibly useful 

and comprehensive | www.gostudy.mobi 

| www.gostudy.net 

Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) 

| Full cost bursaries for science, engineering, 

commerce, agriculture, environmental studies 

& IT | 0860 693 888 | callcentre@idc. 

co.za | www.idc.co.za/bursaries 

IRR | South African Institute of 

Race Relations | Medical, business, 

management, scientific, education and 

engineering bursaries. Apply online | 

info@irr.org.za | www.irr.org.za/bursaries 

My Courses | Info about further study for 

matriculants | www.mycourses.co.za 

National Institute for the Humanities 

and Social Sciences | Advances and 

coordinates relevant scholarships | 24 

St Andrews Rd, Parktown, Johannesburg 

| 011 480 2300 | info@nihss.ac.za | 

www.nihss.ac.za 

National Research Foundation (NRF) 

| Bursaries, scholarships, grants and 

fellowships in all fields of science and 

technology | www.nrf.ac.za 

National Science and Technology 

Forum (NSTF) | Bursaries, scholarships, 

fellowships, studentships | www.nstf.org. 

za | f National Science and Technology 

Forum - NSTF 

National Skills Fund (NSF) | Funding 

for bursaries, scholarships, learnerships, 

skills development programmes, workplacebased 

learning | Ndinaye Building, 178 

Francis Baard St, Tshwane/Pretoria | 012 

943 3101 | www.dhet.gov.za 

National Student Financial Aid Scheme 

(NSFAS) | Study loans or bursaries for 

underprivileged undergraduate studies 

at public universities or universities of 

technology | 0800 067 327 / 021 763 

3200 / SMS: 32261 | info@nsfas.org.za | 

www.nsfas.org.za 

National Youth Development Agency 

(NYDA) | Solomon Mahlangu 

Scholarship Fund | Serves SA youth 

aged 18 - 35 with info, career guidance, 

mentorship, bursaries & scholarships | 

087 158 6345 / 158 5738 / 158 4742 | 

info@nyda.gov.za | www.nyda.gov.za 

Pace | Info, guidance & support | PACE 

Career Centre, 18 Greyton Rd, Milnerton, 

Cape Town | 021 555 3928 | info@ 

pace.za.com | www.pacecareers.com 

Rural Education Access Programme 

(REAP) | Assists qualifying students from 

rural areas to access free tertiary education 

at 15 different Higher Education Institutions 

| Cape Town: 021 696 5500 | Durban: 

031 201 3724 | Jhb: 087 805 7992 | 

reception@reap.org.za or fill in a form 

online | www.reap.org.za 

SA Bursaries | A comprehensive list 

of bursaries, criteria, etc. in all fields of 

study | www.zabursaries.co.za | f 

SouthAfricaBursaries 

Sasol Bursaries | For engineering and 

science | www.sasolbursaries.com 

StudentRoom | A career portal for 

bursaries, internships & learnerships | 

www.studentroom.co.za 

StudyTrust | Administers bursaries 

& scholarships and provides student 

mentorship and career development 

services on behalf of corporations, 

foundations and private donors | 10 

Kindly report missing or incorrect information to talk.to.us@southafricanconversations.co.za 

>>>


EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS & SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS 

– Editor 

Local livelihoods. 

Important resources. 

– Helena Norberg-Hodge 

Local Futures | An extraordinary 

site with a wealth of free resources, 

including: 

• The Economics of Happiness | If 

you watch only one video listed in 

this book, let it be this one. It is an 

award-winning film that makes it clear 

that the multiple crises we face as 

humans share a common root cause: 

the global economic system. It raises 

awareness of the power of economic 

localisation to restore ecological, 

social, physical and spiritual wellbeing. 

• The Economics of Happiness 

Workshop and Toolkit | Guide, 

templates and tools for effective 

systemic change where you live. 

• Localisation Action Guide | Tools 

to build resilient local economies. 

• PLANET LOCAL: A Quiet Revolution 

| A 7-part film series about 

regenerative LOCAL food as a 

powerful solution-multiplier. 

| www.localfutures.org / www. 

helenanorberghodge.com | f Local 

Futures / Economics of Happiness | 

You 

Tube 

Local Futures (Also look for Historic 

interview with Helena Norberg-Hodge) 

t 

LEARNING & EARNING 

PLACEMENTS & INTERNSHIPS 

Afrika Tikkun | Internships for youth 

aged 19-29 with matric or equivalent 

| 57 6th Rd, Eastwood Bldg, Hydepark, 

Johannesburg | 011 325 5914 | info@ 

afrikatikkun.org | www.afrikatikkun.org 

Harambee Youth Employment 

Accelerator | An NPO focused on youth 

employment. Manages SA Youth, a national 

network of business, social and government 

partners that help young, unemployed 

South Africans aged 18 – 34 to access a 

wide selection of learning and earning 

opportunities – for free! Open to South 

African citizens, permanent residents and 

refugees. You’ll need your ID number or 

refugee number, as well as the postal code 

of the area where you live | Register data 

free at sayouth.mobi | For help on how to 

register or any other advice call 0800 72 72 

72 toll-free | f sayouth.mobi 

Lulaway | Matches young job seekers 

with available work opportunities and 

internships. Also provides work-readiness 

training. Candidates can register 1. 

Via Lulaway’s website 2. By emailing or 

WhatsApping their CV, ID and copies of 

qualifications / certificates OR 3. By visiting 

one of 200 job centres nationwide. Find a 

job centre near you on their website | Or 

call: 010 140 9510 / WhatsApp: 065 327 

8274 | info@lulaway.co.za | www. 

lulaway.co.za | f Lulaway 

Parliamentary Monitoring Group | 

Internships for young people to monitor 

Parliament and observe and write detailed 

reports of the proceedings of 50 oversight 

committees, during parliamentary sessions. 

Ideal for those with a background in or 

who are studying politics and law, and can 

write well. Enquire about educational and 

other requirements and if there are current 

vacancies for monitors. Cape Town only | 

9 Church Square, Parliament St, Cape Town 

| 021 465 8885 | monitors@pmg.org.za 

| www.pmg.org.za | f pmgsouthafrica 

You 

Tube 

| PMG - Youth Monitoring Parliament 

SA Youth | This is South Africa’s 

national network for all young people to 

access entry-level learning and earning 

opportunities. The network consists of 

government, business & social partners – 

brought together by the Presidential Youth 

Employment Intervention to tackle youth 

unemployment. SA Youth is free for young 

South Africans to apply and for employers 

to post opportunities. Register online at 

sayouth.datafree.co or at SAYouth.mobi 

(No data needed!) Once you have completed 

your personal profile you’ll be able to search 

for jobs near you. SA Youth is open to 

South African citizens, permanent residents, 

refugees and people with valid work permits 

aged 18 – 34 | 0800 72 72 72 | info@ 

sayouth.org.za | Zero-rated / data-free 

access: sayouth.datafree.co / SAYouth. 

mobi | Partners / employers join here: 

partners.sayouth.org.za | f SAyouth 

Unity in Africa Foundation | An NPO/ 

PBO. Offers a four-phase education 

to employment programme for youth 

interested in engineering, IT or computer 

science careers | Felsted Bldg, 14 Bird 

St,Gqeberha/PE | 041 582 1274 | info@ 

uina.co.za | www.uina.co.za | f 

UinAFoundation 

Yes4Youth | An NPO employment 

service that connects young people aged 

18-34 to economic opportunities through 

work at participating companies throughout 

South Africa | collaborate@yes4youth. 

co.za | Visit www.yes4youth.co.za/foryouth 

for resources on how to prepare 

yourself for the workplace | Register for 

work at yes4youth.mobi or call 087 654 

0878 if you don’t have access to the internet 

| 087 330 0084 | www.yes4youth.co.za 

| f Yes4YouthZA 

Youth Health Africa | A healthcarefocused 

youth empowerment organisation 

combatting youth unemployment and the 

spread of HIV through a one-year Skills 

Development/Internship Programme 

in health facilities across South Africa 

| 010 590 1300 | info@yhafrica. 

org | www.youthhealthafrica.org | f 

YouthHealthAfrica 



EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS & SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS 

Research the major players in a sector 

that interests you, such as engineering, 

finance, hospitality, manufacturing, 

retail, the environment, etc. and apply 

directly for an internship with an 

organisation that you would like to 

work with – locally or internationally. 

Relevant qualifications may just land 

you the opportunity. Try it. 

SEARCH OR REGISTER 

ONLINE FOR WORK 

Find help with creating your best CV. 

Search for ‘CV template’ online or in 

Microsoft Word templates. When your CV 

is ready, explore ALL the options listed 

below. Some of them are job search 

engines – with the most comprehensive 

job listings gathered from multiple 

sources all over the web – and some are 

job boards where registered recruitment 

agencies and employers list jobs. 

You can search for jobs, refine your 

search, post your CV or create a CV using 

an online CV builder. List your email 

address to be informed of similar, but 

new job postings – all free of charge on 

most sites. 

Some words of advice: 

1. Do not write your entire CV in CAPITAL 

LETTERS. It is extremely difficult to 

read. 

2. Google ‘How to create a CV’ and ‘How 

to write a job application cover letter’ 

– even if you think you know how to do 

it. 

3. Spellcheck your CV and any cover 

letter before sending them out. 

4. DO NOT apply for positions for which 

you don’t qualify – you’ll be wasting 

your time and annoying the person 

who has to read your application. 

Take note that is against the law in South 

Africa for recruiters to charge applicants 

for job offers. 


free access to education and some job-related 

websites (and more). Find out from your service 

provider what’s available. 

• MTN | OpenTime 

• Vodacom | ConnectU 

• Cell C | CONNECT4FREE 

• Telkom / 8ta | Zero Rated Websites 



As a business | 

n 

Pay people for coming to interviews 

for their time and transport costs 

– regardless of whether they’re 

offered the job. You have no idea 

what a difference that will make. 

n 

Do business with small businesses 

in your community – especially in 

townships – so that they can afford 

to employ more people. 

As a community | 

n 

Support small businesses rather 

than chain-stores and multinational 

brands. 

n 

Start a community market where 

people can sell and swap the things 

they make and the food they grow. 

JOB BOARDS 

A job board is a website used by 

employers to advertise their job 

vacancies to job seekers. 

• www.bestjobs.co.za | 

App: BestJobs Job Search 

• www.bizcommunity.com | Select your 

industry from the menu on the left and 

then select JOBS from the menu bar at 

the top 

• www.careerjunction.co.za | 

App: CareerJunction 

• www.careerplanet.co.za 

• www.careers24.com | 

App: Careers24 SA Job Search 

• www.dreamxchange.co.za 

• www.giraffe.co.za 

• www.gumtree.co.za 

• www.hoteljobs.co.za | A South African 

job board for the hospitality industry 

• www.jobmail.co.za | App: Job Mail 

• www.jobs.co.za 

• www.jobspace.co.za 

• www.jobvine.co.za 

• www.pnet.co.za | App: Pnet 

• www.quest.co.za 

• www.sagovjobs.co.za 

• www. talent360.co.za 

• www.thejobsportal.co.za 

Also search for ‘employment agencies’ online 

and register on all their websites – provided 

you have relevant experience/qualifications. 

JOB SEARCH ENGINES 

Job search engines scour the web for job 

listings from multiple sources, saving 

you time. 

CareerJet | Both a job board and a job 

search engine | www.careerjet.co.za | 

App: Careerjet 

Google for Jobs | A job search engine. 

Simply type ‘Google for Jobs’ or ‘Teaching 

jobs (or nursing or whatever job you’re looking 

for) near me’ in the search bar. A short list 

of jobs will appear, with a link to more jobs 

at the bottom of the list. Click on the word 

‘Jobs’ in the blue bar at the top of the list, or 

on ‘more jobs’ at the bottom of the list, to 

open a page with 2 menu bars where you 

can set the location, job category, company 

type, etc., as well as refine your search. You 

can also sign up for job alerts on this page. 

Indeed / za.indeed.com | A job board & 

job search engine | App: Indeed Job Search 



Teach someone how to: 

• Speak, read and write English. 

• Make sense of numbers. 

• Open and balance a bank account. 

• Dr a car. 

• Use a computer, set up an email 

account & a FB page, download 

WhatsApp, and surf the Internet. 

• Type and use Word. 

SOUTH AFRICAN JOBS 

DATABASES 

Register & upload your information to 

be notified of opportunities. 

Department of Public Works & 

Infrastructure: Unemployed Built 

Environment Youth and Professional 

Information Gathering | A database 

of unemployed built environment youth, 

professionals and artisans | Upload your 

details here: www.publicworks.gov.za/DPWI_ 

Unemployed_Database.html 

Employment Services of South Africa 

(ESSA) | This is the Department of 

Employment & Labour’s work seeker 

database. Go to www.labour.gov.za | 

Select ‘Online Services’ from the menu bar 

to access the ESSA system, then: 




– Alan Kay 

There are unbelievable world-class resources for entrepreneurs available on the internet – 

most with incredibly generous free options. If you don’t find it in this section, Google it. 

t 


• EDUCATION – the entire section 

• EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS & SUSTAINABLE 

LIVELIHOODS 

• ENTREPRENEURSHIP 

• YOUTH 

APPS, TEMPLATES, TOOLS 

& SOFTWARE (Mostly free) 

Also see ELECTRONIC PLATFORMS & TOOLS in 

the EDUCATION: RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS & 

EDUCATORS pages. 

Find The Right Software or App 

For Your Business 

Capterra | A comprehensive, 

free, online directory that allows 

you to find, research, filter, compare 

and read user reviews on software 

solutions in over 700 categories, such 

as Project Management, CRM, HRM, 

Accounting, IT Asset Management, 

Email Marketing, Retail Management, 

LMS, Inventory Management, and 

Help Desk | www.capterra.co.za / 

www.capterra.com | f Capterra 

GetApp | A free platform for 

recommended apps and software for 

small businesses. Select the category, 

such as billing & invoicing, marketing, 

project management, etc, then filter 

by price range (including free) and the 

equipment you will use the software 

on to gain a comprehensive overview 

and user reviews | www.getapp. 

com | f GetApp 

ACCOUNTING 

ZipBooks | Free accounting software: 

invoices, time-tracking, financial reports, 

and bank integration. Low-priced upgrade 

include payroll + | www.zipbooks.com 

BALANCE, PRODUCTIVITY & FOCUS 

Free apps reminding you to take a break | 

• Time Out for Apple Mac, exclusively | 

www.dejal.com/timeout 

• Eye Care 20 20 20 for iOS and Android 

phones. Reminds you to take 20-second 

breaks and focus your eyes on something 

at least 20 feet (7m) away 

Google Digital Well-being | Tips & tools 

to help you understand and manage your 

tech use | Search for ‘google wellbeing’ 

Momentum Dash | A free browser 

add-on that provides a starting page with 

daily nature photos, quotes, a to-do list, and 

personal challenge to keep you focused and 

inspired. It works even when you’re offline! 

| www.momentumdash.com 

BUSINESS FORMS, 

LEGAL AGREEMENTS & LETTER 

TEMPLATES 

Google Docs | Create, edit and save 

documents as text or PDF files in your 

web browser for free, without any special 

software. Includes templates, such as 

resumes, letters, proposals, brochures, 

reports, forms, meeting notes, newsletters, 

etc. Accessible only with a gmail account | 

www.docs.google.com 

Microsoft | MS Word offers a wide range 

of free, customizable templates, including 

calendars, CVs, cover letters, newsletters, 

brochures, flyers, menus, catalogs, invoices, 

receipts, etc. PowerPoint also has a range of 

templates and themes. Search for a specific 

template or check templates.office.com or 

forms.office.com for a larger selection. 

BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATES 

Write your business plan yourself and 

then have someone review it, rather than 

paying someone to write it for you. You 

will learn more about the business this 

way – increasing your chances of success. 

Also see the yellow box: 

AN ASTONISHING FREE TOOLKIT 

elsewhere in this section 

Bplans | An online collection of free 

sample business plans with guides, 

calculators and practical advice on planning, 

pitching, funding and managing a business 

| www.bplans.com | f Bplans 

Business Model Canvas | A 

management template using nine building 

blocks for planning a successful business. 

Free and paid options are available from 

different sources. Try searching “free 

business model canvas” or check out www. 

canvanizer.com and www.xtensio.com 

– Civil Engineer in a comment section 

somewhere online 

CLOUD STORAGE & FILE SHARING 

Dropbox | Sign up for a free account 

with 2 GB of storage. Paid options available. 

Share files from here with co-workers, 

clients, etc. | www.dropbox.com 

Google storage | Every Google Account 

starts with 15 GB of free storage that’s 

shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and 

Google Photos. Upgrade to Google One for 

more storage space | one.google.com 

WeTransfer | Share or send up to 2GB 

of files for free around the world. No sign-up 

required | www.wetransfer.com 

CONFERENCE CALLING 

FreeConferenceCall.com | Zoom 

alternative. Can host up to 1,000 users per 

session, with features like whiteboarding, 

breakout sessions, chat, recording, and 

mobile app options. Pay-what-you-can 

pricing model allows access to quality video 

conferencing software for entrepreneurs, 

charities, students, start-ups, etc. | www. 

freeconferencecall.com 

~ 




Here's What Businesses Can Do To Make A Difference 

Here are some out-of-the-box ideas for businesses to help stimulate 

entrepreneurship and promote sustainable self-reliance & independence 

Photo | Rodger Bosch | MedicaClubSouthAfrica.com 

CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP 

MANAGEMENT (CRM) TOOLS 

Hubspot | A fantastic, free CRM software 

to centralise customer management. 

Includes contact & task management, 

email tracking, templates, document 

sharing, meeting scheduling, live chat 

and sales quotes. Sign up includes free 

email tips on improving marketing & sales 

communications | www.hubspot.com | 

Tube 

How To Use HubSpot CRM | All-In- 

You 

One FREE CRM Software for Small Business 

(HubSpot Tutorial) 

ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES 

v Support one or more employees 

in developing a business to supply 

your business. Brainstorm mutually 

beneficial ideas together. Help 

them purchase the tools of the 

trade – the boat, computer, lawn 

mower, truck – that will enable 

them to become a supplier to you 

and many others. Help them gain 

access to finance, knowledge, raw 

materials, space in which to work 

or store the products of their 

labour or ways to transport it to 

market. Help them advertise their 

products to generate increased 

demand for their offering. Help 

them become successful – and 

watch productivity soar in both 

your businesses. The more 

economic prosperity we create, the 

more all of us will prosper. 

v Partner with individuals and 

existing businesses in communities 

in which you operate to make sure 

that money flows back to them (as 

opposed to extracting profits without 

re-investment into the community). 

Finding ways to involve your 

customers as partners will create 

goodwill beyond what any public 

relations activity or media coverage 

could ever buy. Involve them in 

planting, growing, producing, 

testing, processing, distributing, 

marketing and selling your product 

– giving them access to useful 

goods along with the potential to 

earn an income. 

v Package your product in smaller 

quantities (example: a pair of 

pants and two shirts, two pairs 

of underpants and socks for 

a 10-year-old boy) and start a 

programme that makes it possible 

for customers to re-sell your 

merchandise in their rural home 

areas, eliminating the need for you 

to open a store in every remote 

corner of South Africa. Pass the 

resultant cost-saving on to your 

customers in these rural areas. 

v Pay them for advertising your 

brand on their walls and for 

promoting your product on their 

streets and in their spaza-shops. 

v Create win-win partnerships that 

strengthen township economies. 

Arrange with township taxis 

and spaza shops to make your 

products available to inhabitants 

who can barely afford the taxi 

money to go to town. 

v Provide training, skills development 

and access to information to make 

sure that the employee-becomesupplier 

or the customer-becomepartner 

can continue to supply 

what your business needs. 

Supporting the development of Black entrepreneurs will help 

transform the legacy of apartheid, which barred Black people from 

owning more than 49% of the shares in their own businesses – 

undermining any will and incentive to start a business, leaving at least 

two generations of South Africans without entrepreneurial precedent. 

DigiSigner | Electronic signature. No 

need to print, sign and scan. Add your 

signature electronically and send. No signup 

required | www.digisigner.com 

FAXING 

Online faxing providers offer a free 

trial, with costs similar to traditional 

fax machines. Look for providers with 

availability in South Africa, send and 

receive capability, electronic signatures, file 

sharing and storage, and reasonable costs. 

You can link a free Google fax number to 

your Gmail address but you will still need 

an online service provider to send and 

receive faxes. Free emergency options: 

Cocofax | Send and receive faxes online 

from any device. 14-day free trial. Credit 

card needed to start. Works with Google fax 

| www.cocofax.com 

GotFreeFax | 30-day free trial. Cannot 

receive faxes | www.gotfreefax.com 

Online Fax | Install the app to fax directly 

from your PC or from Google Drive, always 

free, but limited to 5 pages per month | 

https://onlinefax.io 

Wisefax | Pay as you go to send faxes 

or set up a monthly account to send and 

receive | www.wisefax.com 

MARKETING TOOLS 

Buffer | A social media scheduler for 

managing posts on Twitter, Facebook, 

Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Free 

option offers 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts 

for 1 user per month | www.buffer.com 

Canva | A free, easy-to-use online 

graphic design platform for non-designers. 

Drag-and-drop functionality. Hundreds of 

free templates for advertisements, posters, 



FOOD GROWING 

– Ron Finley 

t 

COMMERCIAL FARMING 

See: SUPPORT FOR FARMERS in the 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP pages 

EDIBLE LANDSCAPES 

As hunger is becoming a global problem, 

increasing numbers of towns and cities 

around the world are planting food 

instead of doing traditional landscaping. 

In these edible cities people are 

encouraged to pick what they need, free 

of charge and without questions asked. 

Andernach in Germany is one such 

city. In 2010, they planted 101 varieties 

of tomatoes in the town centre – free 

for anyone to pick. The following year 

the city did the same with beans, then 

onions. Now you’ll find all kinds of 

vegetables, herbs, berries and fruit and 

nut trees growing among the flowers 

and shrubs all over the city. And because 

there’s enough to go around, people 

don’t take more than they need. 

EDIBLE PUBLIC SPACES 

Edible Cities Network | Shares 

information, inspiration and expertise, 

and promotes sustainable methods of 

urban food production, distribution and 

consumption to tackle urgent urban 

challenges – from climate change to hunger 

and social exclusion – through edible, 

nature-based cities throughout the world. 

Resource-rich website. Free newsletter | 

www.edicitnet.com | f Edicitnet - The 

Edible Cities Network 

Food Matters | A British NPO that works 

to create sustainable and fair food systems, 

educating people about the physical and 

mental health benefits of healthy eating. 

Freely download the following: 

• Building Local Food Systems 

• Mapping Local Food Webs Toolkit 

• Food Growing and Development 

www.foodmatters.org | f Foodmatters.org 

Incredible Edible Network | Creating 

healthy, kind, connected, prosperous and 

resilient communities – through food. Inforich 

website | www.incredibleedible.org. 

uk | f IncredibleEdibleUK 

Urban Farming | A global NPO on a 

mission to create an abundance of food 

and economic opportunity through the 

establishment of food gardens on unused 

land, rooftops and other spaces. Info-rich 

website | www.urbanfarming.org | f 

UrbanFarmingGlobalFoodChain 

Imagine how beautiful our towns and cities 

would look if all empty yards had food rather 

than weeds growing in them! Imagine what 

heartache and suffering could be averted with 

this simple strategy. 

TEDtalks | Edible Cities, Lynn Shore 

| From garden city to edible city, Bjorn 

Low & Calvin Soh | How we can eat our 

landscapes, Pam Warhurst 

YouTube | City of Atlanta opens free food 

forest to the public | Creating a Front 

Yard Garden to Engage the Community | 

Edible Landscaping - How to Create a 

Foodscape | How to Design a Public 

Permaculture Food Forest | How to Grow 

Organic, Edible Landscapes | Incredible 

Edible Public Park Helps to Feed 200,000 

People Every Month | The Incredible 

Edible Landscape 

A Lesson from America's 

First ‘Agrihood’ 

Photo | Miona Janeke 

An experimental food garden at Menlyn Park 

Shopping Centre in Pretoria, a decade ago. 

Landscaping public parks, corporate 

gardens, empty plots of land and 

overgrown pavements with edible plants 

could be a very effective solution to 

hunger and malnutrition in our country. 

An example of flowers, herbs & vegetables 

growing together in a public space. 

It was an empty lot in a poor 

suburb. It now feeds roughly 

2,000 households per month. 

www.miufi.org 



FOOD GROWING 

EDIBLE SCHOOL GARDENS 

The Edible Schoolyard Project | 

Edible education that provides hands-on 

experiences that connect students to food, 

nature and each other. Addresses the crises 

of climate change, public health, hunger and 

social inequality. Resource-rich website with 

free lesson plans & instruction materials | 

You 

Tube 

www.edibleschoolyard.org | The Edible 

Schoolyard Project 

Food gardens at schools: 

• Provide free school lunches, which frees 

up money for other necessities. 

• Some programmes in different parts of 

the world have resulted in reductions in 

malnutrition of between 80-95% among 

students. 

• Once they know how to garden, children 

can be provided with seeds to plant at 

home, adding to individual family food 

security. 

• Teach students about proper nutrition, 

stewardship of the earth and the value 

of community. 

TEDtalks | Growing minds by growing 

school gardens, Laurie Brekke 

YouTube | Food For Thought ~ Schools 

Permaculture (South African) | Growing 

Space - Edible Gardens For Schools And 

Communities | Guide to starting a school 

garden | The Benefits of School Gardens 

| The Best School Garden - Galileo 

VIDEOS & TALKS ABOUT 

URBAN FARMING 

Watch this short, but very 

important video 

You 

Tube 

Local Food can Save the World | 

A 2 -minute movie that explains the 

benefits of local food production: it 

encourages crop diversity, dignified 

& sustainable work and income for 

local people, more nutritious food 

for the community, and healthier 

ecosystems. At the same time, local 

food economies massively reduce 

pollution, plastic packaging and CO2 

emissions. The movie was produced 

by Local Futures | An NPO 

dedicated to revitalizing local cultural 

and biological diversity. Their website 

contains a wealth of resources, 

including other documentaries and 

a Localisation Action Guide – all free 

| www.localfutures.org | f Local 

Futures / Economics of Happiness 

My Family's Garden 

I was raised almost exclusively on 

homegrown fruits and vegetables 

in the small village where I come 

from in France. 

I’ve always been amazed at how 

many things my parents grew 

in such abundance in our tiny 

garden: tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, 

onions, carrots, beans, potatoes, 

rhubarb, squash and pumpkins. 

My mother grew thyme, mint, 

rosemary, parsley and chives, and 

our four fruit trees provided us 

with peaches, apples, apricots and 

pears. 

Anything we had too much of we 

traded for things we didn’t have 

with neighbours who also grew 

their own food. 

Photo | Steffi Pereira | Unsplash 

TEDtalks | A guerrilla gardener in 

South Central LA, Ron Finley | How 

urban agriculture is transforming Detroit, 

Devita Davison | The urban agriculture 

revolution, David Gingera | Urban farming: 

Creating tomorrow’s food, Sriram Gopal 

YouTube | Farming While Black, Leah 

Penniman | Growing Food in Urban Small 

Spaces - Urban Gardening | How Green 

Roofs Can Help Cities | Inspiring Woman 

Growing a Huge Amount of Food in Her City 

Permaculture Garden | Rob Greenfield: 

Growing Food in Urban Small Spaces - 

Urban Gardening / The Off-Grid Community 

Garden in the Middle of the City! | Soul 

Fire Farm | This Woman Built 17 Gardens 

for Her Community and Isn’t Stopping! / 

Transforming Yards Into Gardens | Urban 

Edible Forest | Urban Farming and 

Growing Your Own Food with Greg Peterson 

– Kimbal Musk, Million Gardens Movement 

And don’t get me wrong: my 

parents are not farmers. They are 

working people. Growing their own 

food allowed them to feed our 

family with very little money. They 

bought some seeds but mostly 

used seeds saved from the foods 

that we ate. 

With minimal effort, anyone can 

be a gardener — even without a 

garden, because you can grow 

almost anything in containers. 

Even trees. Growing food requires 

patience, but it is well worth the 

trouble: you will soon have a 

thriving little business out of a 

project that feeds your family for 

free. 

– Melina Huet 



Take back your power. 

Grow your own food! 

Photo | Courtney Smith | Unsplash 

Imagine a world in which families and communities are fundamentally 

self-sufficient ... living sustainably from the land, the way we, 

as a species, have lived for 99% of our time on earth, but with the 

advantage of modern tools and technologies at our disposal. 

Imagine not being dependent on shops for sustenance, 

making use of their offerings when it suits us – 

not because we have no choice. 

Order the poster at www.southafricanconversations.co.za/shop 


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FOOD GROWING 

4 Traditional Crops 

These crops are now referred to as the 

“forgotten foods for the future” 

because they are nutrient-rich, 

drought-tolerant, pest and disease 

resistant and easy to grow. 

Find out how to grow them at 

www.biowatch.org.za 

Indigenous Seeds 

Traditional, subsistence 

farmers are the custodians of 

Africa’s seeds, plants and 

knowledge systems. 

Photo: Jacques Naude 

AMASWELA ( calabash) UDHALI (pigeon pea) 

Lagenaria siceraria 

Cajanus cajan 

UMMBILA (maize) 

Zea mays 

UNYAWOTHI (pearl millet) 

Pennisetum glaucum 

AMABELE (sorghum) 

Sorghum bicolor 

UBHONTSHISI (kidney bean) 

Phaseolus vulgaris 

The cowpea is a tough annual legume that has become popular in the dry tropics and subtropics worldwide. However, wild 

cowpeas are found only in Africa and Madagascar, and it appears that cowpeas were first domesticated in west and east 

Africa. From here they spread to southeast Asia together with sorghum and millet 3 500 years ago, to the Mediterranean and 

eventually to the Americas. 

Delicious, nutritious, ancient legume 

Cowpea 

cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) isiZulu: imbumba 

Cowpeas are an African staple. 

UMNGOMENI 

(mung bean) 

Vigna radiata 

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AMATHANGA 

( pumpkin) 

Cucurbita maxima 

Cowpeas are a versatile food that can be prepared in many ways. The green pods, dry and fresh leaves, cooked dry beans, and 

cooked or raw fresh beans can all be eaten. The beans are also ground into a paste or flour, and can be processed into a milk 

in the same way as soya beans. 

Their importance as an African staple ensured their inclusion in the cuisines of the African diaspora. The African tradition of 

eating “black-eyed” peas (cream or tan cow peas with a dark eye) with rice is widespread in southern USA, and this dish, called 

“Hoppin John” is eaten with collard greens on New Years’ Day to bring good luck. In west Africa and the Caribbean, fried 

cowpea fritters are served for breakfast and snacks. 

Cowpeas are an important source of carbohydrates (63%) and proteins (25%), with low fat content (1.5%); as well as being 

rich in vitamins B1, B2 and B9 and the minerals calcium, phosphorus and iron. 

A versatile food, cowpeas are an African staple. 

biodiversity | food sovereignty | agroecology | social justice | www.biowatch.org.za 

Jugo bean 

jugo bean (Vigna subterranea) isiZulu: izindlubu 

Jugo bean, a legume, is a traditional crop in sub-Saharan Africa. Analysis of the diversity of the many landraces on the 

continent suggest that it originated in northeastern Nigeria and northern Cameroon in West Africa. It is the third most 

important legume grown on the continent after peanuts and cowpeas, with west Africa producing 50% of the harvest. Its 

West African roots have resulted in the most known common name: the Bambara nut. In Zimbabwe it is known as the Nyimo 

bean and in South Africa it is called the jugo bean and sometimes the round groundnut. In South Africa, jugo beans are mainly 

grown in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. 

The third most important legume in Africa. 

Jugo beans can be sown after the first rains in early summer. They grow to height of 35cm with a compact, well-developed tap 

root and creeping branched or spreading stems with three-leaflet clusters. Although jugo beans are related to cowpeas, the 

“bean” that is harvested comes from a pod produced in the ground, similar to peanuts. They start producing yellow flowers a 

month after planting. Once the flowers are fertilised the stems grow downwards to produce wrinkly pods, containing one or 

two seeds, buried in the soil. The beans are almost round, with a hard and shiny coat in a diversity of colours including white, 

cream, red, brown, black and speckled. 

Jugo beans thrive in well drained, sandy-loam soils and high temperatures. Although they enjoy consistent rain while growing 

they do better in dry areas, and can produce a harvest with less than 500mm of rain per year. 

Jugo beans are the 3rd most important legume in Africa. 

Photo: Gcina Ndwalane 

Photo: Max Bastard 

IZINDLUBU (jugo bean) 

Vigna subterranea 

TRADITIONAL FARMERS ARE THE CUSTODIANS OF OUR FOOD 

Sophiwe Dlamini’s 

household seedbank 

Seed selection, saving and exchange are at the heart of traditional 

Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 

agricultural systems for millions of African small-holder farmers, 

contributing significantly to livelihoods and the conservation of 

agricultural biodiversity. Traditional crops are culturally valued, 

locally adapted and genetically diverse. Farmers conserve this agro-diversity by growing many species and varieties, and using household 

seedbanks to manage plant genetic resources. In doing so, African small-holder farmers are reviving, enhancing and deepening understanding 

of traditional seed and knowledge systems. 

Household seedbanks represent a rich repository of culture and tradition, and the display of seeds, and the pleasure that is taken in their 

exchange and use, also plays an essential role in strengthening social networks. Locally adapted and diverse crops build the resilience and 

adaptive capacity of farmers, which is vital in the face of global environmental change and uniformity in agricultural systems. 

watch 

SOUTH AFRICA 

IBHECE (watermelon) 

Citrullus lanatus 

biodiversity food sovereignty biosafety social justice 


UDONCA (sesame) 

Sesamum indicum 

AMAKINATI (groundnut) 

Arachis hypogea 

IMBUMBA (cowpea) 

Vigna unguiculata 

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY 

TO SEED AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY 

Download this free poster 

with 44 different types of seeds 

of food plants that grow naturally 

in South Africa. 

Botanist and photographer: Mark Mattson 


Millets 

finger millet (Eleusine coracana) isiZulu: uphoko 

pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) isiZulu: unyawothi 

Millets are a group of diverse small-grain grasses that have provided staple foods and fodder in the semi-arid tropics of Africa 

and Asia since the founding of ancient civilisations, thousands of years ago. Of the many types, farmers in KwaZulu-Natal 

grow finger millet and pearl millet. Both are quick growing, summer annuals that have fairly few insect pests or diseases. 

These grasses grow in clumps and tiller (produce many stems from each plant) especially in good conditions. 

Millets are gluten-free, high in protein and 

FINGER MILLET 

antioxidants, 

Finger millet is one of the most important 

and 

small grains in Africa. 

can 

Of all major 

help 

cereals, this crop 

prevent 

is one of the most nutritious 

and 

and tasty. The plant is hardy, and has adapted to a variety of conditions: rainfall as low as 275mm and up to 1 000mm and 

more, and cool to hot temperatures of up to 35°C. It also grows at elevations ranging between 500m and 2 400m – higher 

than most tropical cereals. The grain can be stored for up to 10 years without insect damage, carrying communities through 

seasons of drought when other crops don’t produce. 

manage diabetes. Finger millet has three 

times more calcium than milk. 

However, this food that has been a staple for thousands of years, is becoming scarce. The crop has received little attention 

from the scientific community, and with a global trend to fast food, the production of finger millet has declined to only 

5-million tons worldwide. In South Africa, finger millet deserves urgent conservation and promotion as a crop that can provide 

quality food in an ever more variable and dry climate. 

Finger millet, an ancient staple grain, is becoming scarce. 


Sorghum 

sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) isiZulu: amabele 

The earliest evidence of the use of sorghum is an 8 000-year-old site on the current border between Egypt and 

Sudan, where sorghum seeds were found together with pottery fragments and cattle bones. North-eastern Africa 

is believed to be the centre of origin for cultivated sorghum due to the genetic diversity of the varieties, and 

similarities with wild sorghums, in this region. 

Highly nutritious and naturally gluten-free, 

Sorghum is the fifth most important grain 

Sorghum is now the 5th most important cereal crop worldwide, providing the staple food for 750 million people. 

Sorghum is an important animal feed; the whole plant is used as fodder, hay and silage (moist fodder that is 

fermented in an airtight store). Commercial production for livestock feed is greater than food, with the USA 

producing most sorghum worldwide. 

in 

Ancient 

the 

grain 

world. Known in South Africa 

as Maltabella. 

Thousands of years of growing sorghum in different parts of the world, has resulted in varieties that are so 

different that they used to be classified as separate species! Now scientists have realised that they are all the 

same amazing crop. For example, in some parts of India one can find sorghum that can be popped like popcorn, 

or cooked and eaten as a vegetable like sweetcorn. In Nigeria there is yellow sorghum, rich in Vitamin A. 

Photo: Gcina Ndwalane 

– Paraphrased from a Zoom conversation. 

Download this free fact sheet about 

why farmers need to save seeds and 

build community seed networks. 


Select ‘Publications & Documents’ 

to find and download the above 

material, plus information about 

traditional crops and how to grow 

them ... and much, much more. 

Sorghum is the 5th most important cereal crop worldwide. 

Kindly report missing or incorrect information to talk.to.us@southafricanconversations.co.za >>> 

biodiversity | food sovereignty | agroecology | social justice | www.biowatch.org.za



– Editor 

t 

FORAGING FOR FOOD 

Shops and supermarkets are not the 

only places where one can find food. 

There are over 80,000 edible plants 

in the world, yet roughly 150 are 

harvested for food. The natural world 

is filled with free and highly nutritious 

food – if only we knew what to look 

for and how to use it the way our 

ancestors did. 

Sadly, the vast bounty of nature has 

been reduced to what we can find in 

the shops. We no longer know that 

there are multiple varieties of the 

same kinds of edible plants in similar 

environments all over the world. 

Photo | Dana Devolk | Unsplash 

The tide is turning, though, and 

people everywhere are beginning to 

rediscover the vast gifts of nature. 

Academics are researching and 

publishing information about the 

nutritional and medicinal properties 

of wild food plants. Farmers are 

beginning to grow indigenous crops 

commercially because they are 

drought and pest resistant, easy 

to grow in local conditions, and 

nutrient-dense. 

And ordinary people are beginning to 

forage for food in their surroundings 

– not because they cannot afford 

store-bought fruits and vegetables, 

but because they want to have 

access to the most densely nutritious 

food that nature has to offer: free 

of chemicals and not genetically 

modified. Besides, increasing the 

diversity of food plants that you eat, 

even in very small quantities, is the 

simplest way to eat a diet that’s rich 

in micro-nutrients. 

In this section, you’ll find information 

about how to identify and use 

indigenous, edible plants that grow 

wild in South Africa. Educate yourself! 

There is no need for any of our 

children to be malnourished! 

You need to learn about only two 

or three wild plants to increase the 

micronutrients in your food and 

start saving money – on food and 

medical bills! But you also need to be 

responsible and make 100% sure that 

you have identified a plant that is not 

poisonous. 

And don’t for a moment think that 

foraging for food is something only 

poor people do. A small restaurant 

called Wolfgat in the Western Cape 

serves almost exclusively foraged 

food and they won an international 

‘Restaurant of the Year’ award in 

2019! (www.wolfgat.co.za) 

South Africa even has a foraging 

celebrity: Roushanna Gray – one 

of eight people from around the 

world who were featured in an 

original documentary series from 

Corona Studios called “Free Range 

Humans.” Roushanna teaches 

foraging workshops and leads wild 

food expeditions along the Cape 

Floral Region, which is recognised 

by UNESCO as one of the most 

biodiverse environments in the world. 

(www.veldandsea.com) 

Read the article: Edible Weeds & Wild 

Plants: A solution to malnutrition? 


Foraging Guidelines 

i Start by learning about one or two 

plants, what they look like, where to 

find them, and how to use them. 

i Properly identify and research any 

wild plant in its unripe and ripe states 

before you eat it. Some plants have 

poisonous look-alikes. See: WHAT‘S 

THAT PLANT CALLED? and research 

the plant in more than one resource. 

i Not everything you find in a book will 

be in your area. And not everything 

you find in your area will be in a book. 

Ask the elders what they know. 

i Do not pick mushrooms unless you 

know what you’re doing. Some are 

poisonous enough to cause death. 

i Only take what you need. Leave 

enough for re-growth. Don’t pull 

out the roots – unless they’re edible. 

Never take the last of what’s left. 

i Don’t damage anything. Don’t disturb 

the ecosystem that produces the 

foods that you’re after. It should look 

as if you were never there. 

i Give nature time to replenish: don’t 

forage in the same area all the time. 

i Don’t litter. We are not the only 

beings who live on this planet and 

animals don’t know the difference 

between a piece of chewing gum 

and a worm. 

i Avoid polluted areas: dog-walking 

paths or roads with heavy traffic. 

i Wash pickings before you eat them. 

i Share your knowledge – especially 

with children. 

i You may need a permit to forage 

in your area. Find out from your 

municipal offices. 

Sources: www.britishlocalfood.com | 

www.EdibleCities.net | www.fao.org – 

search for: Voluntary Guidelines for the 

Conservation and Sustainable Use of Crop 

Wild Relatives and Wild Food Plants 




What's That Plant Called? 

Most apps that help identify plants, 

trees, flowers, vegetables, mushrooms, 

weeds, etc., have a database of photos 

to scroll through. Many allow you to 

submit a photo of any part of a plant 

you’d like to identify. 

Candide | Identify plants or search 

for plants in a specific environment. Can 

also ask the community. Free & ad-free. 

iNaturalist | Identify plants and 

animals. Created by the National 

Geographic Society & the California 

Academy of Sciences. Free & ad-free. 

PlantNet | Database of 20,000+ 

plant species. Free & ad-free. Web version 

at identify.plantnet.org 

PlantSnap | Database of 625,000+ 

plants, trees & mushrooms – and 

growing. Free & paid options. 

A recent and very relevant book 

about the myriad plants that have 

sustained human populations throughout 

the course of history. 

You won’t find them on grocery shelves, 

but you will find them in nature. 

Download this Beginner’s Guide to 

Identifying, Foraging, and Using 

Medicinal Plants free: www.pdfDr.com 

Apps to Help Find 

EDIBLE Wild Plants 

Apps with info on where & when to 

find and identify, how to use for food & 

medicine, poisonous look-alikes, etc. 

Edible and Medicinal Plants | 

Comprehensive & free. 

Edible Plant Guide | Covers 950+ 

wild plants and what health conditions 

they have historically been used for. 

Works offline. Costs less than R50. 

Mushrooms Lite - Field Guide 

(Free) / Mushrooms PRO / iKnow 

Mushrooms 2 PRO / | 3 Apps by 

Nature Mobile. Educational. Helps with 

accurate identification. Works offline. 

Vild Mad | See FORAGING FOR WILD 

FOOD elsewhere in this section. 

Wild Edibles | Plants in temperate/ 

tropical climates. Paid & lite/free versions. 

– Iso, Founder of foragesf.com 

Wild mushrooms are an incredible source 

of healing nutrition. But if you eat the 

wrong thing, you could die. 

Make sure you are well informed. 

Now research that plant! 

Knowing what the plant is called is the 

first step. Next, you MUST research the 

edibility of the plant. Google it, look it 

up on Wikipedia or research it here: 

• www.healthbenefitstimes.com 

• http://pza.sanbi.org 

• https://southafrica.co.za 

See if you can find this book by 

F.W. Fox & M. E. Norwood Young 

in your local library or online. It is one of 

very few books about edible wild plants 

particular to southern Africa. 

Download this informative, free 

booklet. Google: guidetokelp_ 

harvestinginsouthafrica 

Learn from YouTube videos how to use 

seaweed to add nutrition to your food. 



GENDER & VIOLENCE ISSUES 

– Riane Eisler 

t 

Also see: 

• SAFE PLACES, ASSISTANCE & MORE under 

SEXUAL & OTHER ABUSE OF CHILDREN in the 


• GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, as well as RAPE 

in the CRISIS SUPPORT pages 

• GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE & RAPE in the 

MEN & BOYS pages 

• FAMILY WELL-BEING, RELATIONSHIP & 

MARRIAGE COUNSELLING in the WOMEN & 

FAMILY pages 

• EMERGENCY & TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS 

elsewhere in this section. 

TERMS & DEFINITIONS 

Domestic violence | It is committed 

by one partner in an intimate relationship 

against the other partner. It happens in 

heterosexual or same-sex relationships 

& between former spouses or partners. 

It sometimes also involves violence 

against children, parents or the elderly. 

It can include physical, verbal, emotional, 

economic, religious, reproductive or sexual 

abuse. It can range from subtle, coercion 

to violent physical abuse, marital rape, 

disfigurement or death. It may include 

the use of technology to harass, control, 

monitor, stalk or hack. Victims of domestic 

violence are mostly women, who are also 

likelier than men to use intimate partner 

violence in self-defence. 

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) | Physical, 

sexual or psychological harm or suffering 

perpetrated mainly against women, girls & 

transgender people, though GBV could 

affect anyone in an unequal power dynamic: 

men, elders, people with disabilities, and 

children – including boys. Such violence 

may arise from a cultural acceptance 

of sexual violence, from a sense of 

entitlement and superiority, from personal 

misogynistic attitudes or from a deep sense 

of worthlessness and a need for personal 

elevation through demeaning behaviour 

towards others – or from all of the above. 

Homophobia | Negative attitudes toward 

homosexuality or people who are identified 

or perceived as being lesbian, gay, bisexual 

or transgender. Homophobia has been 

defined as prejudice, aversion or hatred and 

may be based on irrational fear, ignorance 

or religious beliefs. 

Misogyny | Hatred of, contempt for, or 

prejudice against women. A form of sexism 

that keeps women at a lower social status 

than men, thus maintaining patriarchy. 

Misogyny includes domestic violence and, in 

its most extreme forms, femicide. 

Objectification | This is an act of treating 

a person as an object or thing that can 

be owned because it lacks autonomy, 

has no feelings or boundaries and is 

interchangeable with other similar objects. 

Women are objectified in pornography, 

prostitution and sometimes in media 

portrayals, advertising and sex jokes. 

Toxic masculinity | Masculinity in 

itself is not toxic. What makes it toxic are 

cultural stereotypes, norms, attitudes and 

behaviours related to masculinity that are 

harmful to the individual and society. This 

includes emotional repression, social and 

sexual dominance and control, homophobic 

and violent behaviour – traits that are 

often also correlated with psychological 

problems such as depression, substance 

use disorders, inability to maintain close 

relationships, as well as criminal behaviour. 

Sexism | Sexism is prejudice or 

discrimination based on someone’s sex 

or gender. It primarily affects women, girls 

and transgender people. It has been linked 

to cultural stereotypes, social customs 

and gender roles, and may include the 

belief that one sex or gender is intrinsically 

superior to another. 

[Source: Wikipedia, mostly] 

Having sex with someone 

without their consent is rape. 

Having sex with a child under the 

age of 16 – even with their consent and 

even if the perpetrator is also underage 

– is rape. 

Rape is a criminal offence that could 

result in life imprisonment. 

Abuse Manifests 

in Many Ways 

Abuse is any act of aggression 

that causes emotional or physical 

injury or hardship. Abuse is used to 

control and oppress others. 

• Abandoning 

• Belittling 

• Blackmailing 

• Bondage 

• Bullying 

• Controlling 

• Cruelty 

• Damage to property 

• Denying access to resources: food, 

money, information, equipment... 

• Elder abuse 

• Emotional or verbal abuse 

• Exposing a child to pornography 

• Financial exploitation 

• Forcing 

• Harassing 

• Hate speech 

• Hitting & hurting 

• Humiliating 

• Insulting 

• Intimidating 

• Isolating 

• Kicking 

• Manipulating 

• Maiming 

• Mind games 

• Murder 

• Name-calling 

• Neglecting 

• Non-consensual pornography 

• Oppression 

• Rape 

• Restraining 

• Restricting movement 

• Sexual harassment & violence 

• Shaming 

• Stalking 

• Strangling 

• Threatening 

• Violence & exposure to violence 

• Withholding care 



GENDER & VIOLENCE ISSUES 

DOMESTIC ABUSE, INCEST & 

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE 

I AM A MAN 

AND I PLEDGE 

– FAMSA 

HELPLINES 


| Anonymous and confidential telephonic 








Lifeline Gender Violence Helpline | 

Anonymous, professional, free telephonic or 

text counselling | Toll-free: 0800 150 150 

/ WhatsApp: 084 922 8808 

For an emergency that needs police 

response | 10111 

For an emergency that requires an 

ambulance | 10177 

Photo | Jassir Jonis | Unsplash 

To never harm any girl or woman. 

To never harm another living being. 

To never ignore or keep silent about violence 

in my community. 

To reject hate, discrimination and prejudice 

against any people, regardless of their gender, 

age, skin colour or sexual preferences. 

To live in harmony with my fellow human 

beings – in the spirit of UBUNTU. 

I AM A MAN 

You can count on me. 

Buy the poster at 

Order the poster at www.southafricanconversations.co.za/shop 

SAPS helplines (office hours) 

• Head Office: Tshwane/Pretoria | 012 

393 2107 / 021 592 1601 

• Eastern Cape | 040 608 8498 

• Free State | 051 507 6628 

• Gauteng | 011 309 6016 / 011 403 3413 

• KwaZulu-Nata | 031 325 4941 

• Limpopo | 015 290 6180 

• Mpumalanga | 013 762 4770 

• North West | 018 299 7159 

• Northern Cape | 053 839 2824 

• Western Cape | 021 467 8390 

Report complaints about SAPS service 

relating to GBV, to the following: 

• The station commissioner at the 

relevant police station 

• The SAPS complaint line | 0800 333 

177 | complaintsnodalpoint@saps. 

gov.za 

• The Independent Police Investigative 

Directorate | 012 399 0000 | 

complaints@ipid.gov.za | Find 

provincial details at www.ipid.gov.za 

• The Gender-based Violence Command 

Centre | 0800 GBV GBV 


>>>


HEALTH 

– Dr. Mimi Guarneri 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Information on these pages is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, 

but as a record of available information on the internet and of knowledge about traditional remedies and the body’s 

ability to heal itself when we live a healthy lifestyle. ALWAYS seek the advice of a medical doctor or qualified health 

professional before trying things out – especially if you’re taking prescription medicines that may adversely 

interact with a home remedy. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it. 

Do share your research findings with your doctor! 

t 

ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE 

Private, insurance-based and public 

health care systems exist alongside each 

other in South Africa. The public system 

includes public hospitals, government 

clinics and community health centres 

that offer primary health care, 

maternity care, family planning and 

oral health care through a nurse-based, 

doctor-supported structure throughout 

the country. Services & medication are 

either free, charged at a minimal flat 

rate or are determined by income level. 

To access the public system, you need 

an SA ID or permanent residence docs, 

pay slip/unemployment/pension card 

and proof of address (if available). 

Find out from your local municipality or 

local hospital what public health care 

facilities are available in your area. 

National Health Hotline | 0800 029 

999 | Answers to questions about 

TB, pregnancy, child health, mental 

wellbeing, vaccines and more! In English, 

Zulu, Afrikaans, Xhosa & Sotho, 24/7 | 

WhatsApp | 0600 123 456 

CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS 

Also see LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES 

in the CHILD WELFARE pages 

Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital | 6 

Jubilee Rd, Parktown, JHB | 010 133 0600 

| www.nelsonmandelachildrenshospital. 

org | f NMCHT 

Red Cross War Memorial Children’s 

Hospital | Klipfontein Rd, Rondebosch, 

Cape Town | 021 658 5111 

Community Health Care Workers 

mothers2mothers (m2m) | 

Primary Health Care services 

(HIV prevention, care & treatment; 

screening for Non-Communicable 

Diseases, Tuberculosis and Malaria; 

family planning, nutrition support, 

and referrals to other vital services) 

through local women living with 

HIV across SA | 021 466 9160 | 

info@m2m.org | https://m2m. 

org | f mothers2mothers 

DISASTER HEALTHCARE 

Doctors Without Borders / Medecins 

Sans Frontieres | A global network of 

medical & other professional specialists. 

Teams partner w/ organisations & local 

experts to meet medical needs of people 

affected by conflict, disasters & epidemics 

plus those excluded from healthcare | 

Zurich House, 70 Fox St, Marshalltown, 

Johannesburg | office-joburg@joburg.msf. 

org | www.msf.org.za | Contact via f 

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) 

FIND A HOSPITAL 

An interactive map of rural and urban 

hospitals | rhap.org.za | Click on 

‘Our Projects’ in the menu bar, then select 

‘Defining Rural – What do we mean by 

rurality? How rural is your facility?’ (Note: 

the map works no matter why you’re visiting.) 

Or, if you’re new to an area, simply 

ask the local people where to find the 

nearest government or non-profit clinic 

or healthcare facility. They will know. 

GAUTENG HEALTH FACILITIES APP 

Mpilo: Healthcare in Your Hands | A 

free zero-rated app from Gauteng Health 

and Vodacom Business. Allows users to: 

find nearby healthcare facilities; call an 

ambulance; report unethical/unacceptable 

staff behaviour and service delivery issues; 

receive health alerts. Hoax-proof. 

HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE 

Palliative care is for people with a 

terminal illness, plus care for their 

families. Check the HPCA website for a 

hospice near you. Or Google “hospice” 

plus your town or suburb. It is your 

birthright to leave this world in dignity, 

surrounded by loving care and kindness 

– in your own home or in a facility. 

Hospice Palliative Care Association of 

South Africa (HPCA) | An umbrella 

organisation representing SA hospices 

offering palliative care. This involves care 

of the patient’s body, mind and spirit, and 

support for family. Any person, of any age, 

with a life-limiting condition, e.g. cancer or 

AIDS, qualifies for palliative care. Anyone 

may refer a patient to hospice. Info-rich 

website, includes a directory of hospices 

in all SA provinces | 021 531 0277 | 

info@hpca.co.za | www.hpca.co.za | f 

HPCA10 

Palliative Care for Children | Info, 

resources, tools, support, networking & 

training in palliative care for families, lay 

caregivers, healthcare professionals and 

organisations taking care of children with 

life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses | 

082 374 4632 / 083 467 6585 | info@ 

patchsa.org | www.patchsa.org | f 

PatchPalliative 



HEALTH 

MIGRANT & REFUGEE HEALTHCARE 

Discover what the law says, what your 

rights are and where to get help if you, 

as a migrant, are refused healthcare 

| www.scalabrini.org.za > ‘Migrant & 

Refugee Access to Public Healthcare in SA’ 

PRO-BONO SURGERIES 

Operation Healing Hands (OHH) | A 

group of doctors, medical professionals, 

sponsors & service providers in the private 

sector, offering life-changing surgeries to 

those unable to afford it. Apply online | 

info@operationhealinghands.co.za | www. 

ohhsa.net | f OperationHealingHands 

RURAL HEALTHCARE 

Phelophepa Health Care Train | Two 

trains bring free or low-cost dental, eye, and 

primary health care, medication, mental 

health counselling and health education 

to poor rural areas with only one doctor 

for every 5,000 patients. The trains are 

operated by the Transnet Foundation, 

sponsored by Roche and Novartis | www. 

roche.co.za > corporate-citizenship > 

phelophepa-healthcare-train 

Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP) | 

Resource-rich website | 010 601 7427 

| info@rhap.org.za | rhap.org.za | f 

Rural Health Advocacy Project 

YOUR RIGHT TO HEALTHCARE 

Also see WHERE TO REPORT MEDICAL 

MISCONDUCT OR MALPRACTICE under 

WHISTLEBLOWING PLATFORMS & AVENUES 

TO REPORT WRONGDOING in the CIVIL 

SOCIETY pages. Covers reporting avenues for 

• Alternative/complementary healthcare 

practitioners/therapists 

• Doctors and medical practitioners 

• Public or private health establishments, 

clinics & hospitals 

• Nurses or midwives 

As well as where to report unresolved or 

unsatisfactory management of a complaint by 

a healthcare establishment. 

People’s Health Movement South 

Africa | Works to improve the capacity 

of individuals and communities to access 

health care | 129 Rochester Rd, 

Observatory, Cape Town | 021 447 5770 

| Contact via website | www.phm-sa.org 

| f PHMSA1 

Problems with a Government 

hospital or clinic? 

Try to resolve the issue at its source 

with someone who is able to take 

action. If unsuccessful, report it to 

the free helpline for your province: 

• Eastern Cape | 0800 032 364 

• Free State | 0800 535 554 

• Gauteng | 0800 203 886 

• KwaZulu-Natal | 033 395 2009 

• Limpopo | 0800 919 191 

• Mpumalanga | 0800 204 098 

• North West | 018 391 4000/1/2 

• Northern Cape | 018 387 5778 

• Western Cape | 021 483 5624 

Still no joy? Contact the relevant 

organisations listed under WHERE 

TO REPORT MEDICAL MISCONDUCT 

OR MALPRACTICE under 

WHISTLEBLOWING PLATFORMS & 

AVENUES TO REPORT WRONGDOING 

in the CIVIL SOCIETY pages. 

Or contact The national office of 

the Department of Health | 012 

395 8000 / 012 395 8495 | www. 

health.gov.za | f HealthZA 

Not getting anywhere? Read the 

article: Here’s How to Become an 

Active Citizen and Make Your Voice 

Heard in the CIVIL SOCIETY pages 

SECTION 27 | Guided by the 

Constitution, works to improve the quality 

and affordability of public and private health 

systems, and to achieve equality and social 

justice for all South Africans. Focus areas: 

• Access to medicines 

• HIV discrimination 

• National Health Insurance 

• Strengthening health systems 

• Sexual and reproductive rights 

• Emergency Medical Services 

• Mental health services 

• Community health workers 

• Migrant Health 

• National Strategic Plan on HIV, AIDS & TB 

| South Point Corner Bldg, 87 De Korte St, 

Braamfontein, Johannesburg | 011 356 

4100 | info@section27.org.za or contact 

via the website | section27.org.za 

Stop Stockouts | Assists people whose 

lives are endangered by chronic shortages of 

essential medicines & children’s vaccines in 

SA. Contact them if you are affected | Send 

a ‘Please Call Me’ or an SMS or WhatsApp 

call 084 855 7867 or call 011 728 7365 | 

report@stockouts.org | www.stockouts.org 

| f stockouts 

Free Download 

Discover your patient rights, and 

your right to quality healthcare 

from the Patients’ Rights Charter 

Search: www.justice.gov.za 

ALTERNATIVE, NATURAL, 

TRADITIONAL & INTEGRATED 

HEALTHCARE 

Search ‘Allied Health Professions’ to read 

the Act, Safety Guidelines and more | 

www.gov.za 

Allied Health Professions Council of 

South Africa (AHPCSA) | A statutory 

body overseeing all allied health 

professions: Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, 

Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Homeopathy, 

Naturopathy, Osteopathy, Phytotherapy, 

Therapeutic Aromatherapy, Therapeutic 

Massage Therapy, Therapeutic Reflexology 

and Unani-Tibb. Access contact info of 

registered practitioners in each modality 

and lodge complaints online | 012 349 

2331 | info@ahpcsa.co.za | www. 

ahpcsa.co.za | f ahpcs 

South African Natural Health 

Practitioners’ Board (SANHPB) | An 

NPO overseeing traditional healing 

modalities and ethno-medicine practices. 

Download Excel spreadsheets with contact 

info of healthcare professionals in: natural 

medicine, holistic & integrative health 

practitioners, naturopaths, and medical 

doctors and surgeons who incorporate 

natural and traditional medicine; traditional 

birth attendants, traditional healers, 

traditional nurses | Contact via the 

website | www.sanhpb.co.za 

South African Society of Integrative 

Medicine (SASIM) | An NPO association 

of registered health practitioners, incl. 

doctors & practitioners of Integrative and 

Functional Medicine. Info-rich website 

with search function to find an Integrative 

Medicine practitioner near you | www. 

integrativemedicine.co.za | 021 855 0518 

| elma@integrativemedicine.co.za | f 

You 

Tube 

sasimofficial | Integrative Medicine 



HUMAN RIGHTS 

– Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka 

t 

Human rights belong to all human 

beings simply because we exist. Our 

right to be alive, to be safe and free, to 

be respected, to have access to food, 

water, a place to live, and more – cannot 

be taken away, regardless of how much 

money we have, what language we speak 

or where we live in the world. 

Human rights can be restricted in specific 

situations and according to due process 

and by a court of law if a person is found 

guilty of dishonouring the human rights 

of another person. So, not only do all 

human beings have rights, but we also 

have an obligation to respect the rights 

of other human beings. 


• The article: South Africa’s Bill of Rights 

Guarantees our Human Rights 

• The CIVIL SOCIETY pages 

• HUMAN RIGHTS under SUBJECT-SPECIFIC 

CONTENT in the EDUCATION: PRIMARY & 

SECONDARY SCHOOL SUBJECT RESOURCES 

GOVERNMENT BODY 


Development | Wide variety of human 

rights & safety information for citizens: 

Resources > Publications or Resources > 

Articles and Info sheets or Resources > 

Highlighted Services | www.justice.gov.za 

INTERNATIONAL / CONTINENTAL 

HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS 

African Centre for Democracy & Human 

Rights Studies | A pan-African human 

rights NGO. Promotes awareness and 

adherence of human rights and democratic 

principles throughout the African continent 

| www.acdhrs.org | f ACDHRS 

African Commission on Human and 

Peoples’ Rights | Responsible for the 

protection and promotion of human and 

peoples’ rights on the African continent, and 

for the interpretation of the African Charter 

On Human And Peoples’ Rights, which can 

be downloaded from ‘Resources’ on their 

website | www.achpr.org | f African 

Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 

Amnesty International South Africa | 

Investigates and exposes human rights 

abuses. Holds governments and powerful 

companies to account, making sure they 

respect international law. Mobilises and 

trains people to claim their rights | 011 

283 6000 | info@amnesty.org.za | 

www.amnesty.org.za | f AmnestySAfrica 

Human Rights Watch | Investigates 

human rights crises around the world | 

www.hrw.org | f HumanRightsWatch | 

You 

Tube 

Human Rights Watch 

Office of the High Commissioner for 

Human Rights (OHCHR) | Represents the 

world’s commitment to the freedoms set 

out in the Universal Declaration of Human 

Rights. Info-rich website | www.ohchr.org 

| f unitednationshumanrights 

Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) 

| Supports human rights lawyers with 

expert legal advice, technical support & 

funding to advance human rights & the rule 

of law. Resource-rich website | President 

Place, 1 Hood Ave, Rosebank, Johannesburg 

| 010 596 8538 | enquiries@salc.org.za 

| www.southernafricalitigationcentre.org 

You 

Tube 

| f southernafricalitigationcentre | 

SALC: Southern Africa Litigation Centre 

War on Want | Challenges policies & 

structures that cause poverty and violate 

human rights | support@waronwant.org 

| www.waronwant.org | f waronwant 

World Justice Project | A multidisciplinary 

organisation working to advance the 

rule of law worldwide and to promote 

justice, opportunity and peace | www. 

worldjusticeproject.org | f thewjp 

LEGAL SUPPORT & RESOURCES 

Centre for Applied Legal Studies at the 

University of the Witwatersrand | 

Legal advice on accessing basic needs like 

housing, water & electricity (countrywide); 

legal assistance with evictions (JHB inner 

city) | 011 717 8600 / National legal 

support helpline: 066 076 8845 | DJ 

du Plessis Bldg, West Campus, University 

of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Ave, 

Braamfontein, Jhb | www.wits.ac.za/cals 

Directory of Justice Services | Focuses 

on issues that affect vulnerable people, 

such as women and children. Topics include 

Maintenance, Domestic Violence, Getting 

married under customary law, and many 

more | www.justice.gov.za then search for 

‘Directory of Justice Services’. The Resources 

section also contains a wide variety of 

useful, topic-specific publications. 

Gazettes.Africa | A free digital collection 

of gazettes | www.gazettes.africa 

Laws.Africa | Open access to African 

legal information | www.laws.africa 

Lawyers for Human Rights | Free legal 

services to vulnerable, marginalised and 

indigent individuals and communities, both 

non-national and South African, who are 

victims of unlawful infringements of their 



HUMAN RIGHTS 

constitutional rights – including unlawful 

arrest and detention of migrants | info@ 

lhr.org.za | www.lhr.org.za 

Gauteng 

• Johannesburg | Southpoint Corner 

Bldg, 87 De Korte St, Braamfontein | 

011 339 1960 / 066 076 8845 | 

• Tshwane/Pretoria, Kutlwanong Democracy 

Centre, 357 Visagie St | 012 320 2943 

| 064 647 4719 

KZN | Diakonia Centre, 20 Diakonia Ave, 

Durban | 031 301 0531 / 078 315 1269 

Limpopo | 18 Watson Ave, Musina | 

015 534 2203 / 076 766 7782 

Legal Aid South Africa | Free legal 

representation for indigent and vulnerable 

persons in SA (not only South African citizens). 

Qualifying criteria on the website. This 

extraordinary site offers an enormous 

amount of useful information. Select ‘Get 

Help’, then select either the topic you’re 

looking for or select Self-help Portal 

for information on: Drafting of Wills | 

Children’s Rights | Citizenship | Consumer 

Protection | Divorce | Domestic Violence 

| Domestic Workers | Equality Court | 

Insolvency | Maintenance | Marriage 

| Mediation | Property | Removal 

of a Criminal Record | School Fees | 

Small Claims Court | Social Grants | 

Unemployment | and many more | Also 

offers an African Network on Legal Aid 

with info on legal aid providers elsewhere 

in Africa | There are Legal Aid SA offices 

in almost every town in every province 

of South Africa. On the website, select 

‘Contact Us’, then select the relevant 

province, then the town or city where you 

require assistance. Or call for details of 

an office near you | Legal Aid House, 

29 De Beer St, Johannesburg | Advice 

line 0800 110 110 or send a Please Call 

Me to 079 835 7179 | Fraud and Ethics 

Helpline 0800 153 728 – should someone 

want to charge you for this free service | 

communications2@legal-aid.co.za | www. 

You 

Tube 

legal-aid.co.za | f LegalAidSA1 | 

Legal Aid South Africa 

Legal Practice Council | A national, 

statutory body that regulates the affairs of 

legal practitioners. Services to the public 

include referral to pro bono attorneys | 

Thornhill Office Park, 94 Bekker Rd Vorna 

Valley, Midrand, Gauteng | 010 001 

8500 | info@lpc.org.za | www.lpc. 

org.za then find ‘Members of the Public’ to 

apply for pro bono legal assistance | f 

LegalPracticeCouncil 

Legal Resources Centre | Uses the law 

to remove structural obstacles to human 

rights, justice and dignity across the full 

range of rights in the Constitution of 

South Africa. Assists with class action legal 

cases that impact large groups of poor, 

marginalised and vulnerable people. Free 

access to case studies, judgements, court 

papers, publications and other resources | 

• Johannesburg | West Wing, Women’s 

Jail, Constitution Hill, 1 Kotze St, 

Braamfontein | 011 339 6080 / 011 836 

9831 / 011 038 9709 | 

• Cape Town | Greenmarket Place, 54 

Shortmarket St | 021 481 3000 | 

• Durban | 031 301 7572 | 

• Makhanda/Grahamstown | 046 622 9230 

Or leave your number on their website and 

they’ll call you back | info@lrc.org.za | 

www.lrc.org.za | f LRCSouthAfrica 

National Association of Democratic 

Lawyers (NADEL) | An organisation of 

lawyers that volunteer to provide access 

to justice for disadvantaged people | 

Commerce House, 55 Shortmarket St, Cape 

Town | 086 602 6167 | Contact via the 

website | www.nadel.co.za 

– Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein 

Ndifuna Ukwazi | Activists and lawyers 

providing legal services, research capacity 

and training to communities in campaigns 

for justice & equality in poor and working 

class communities. Offers support, training 

& mentorship to new organisations, leaders 

and activists | 18 Roeland St, Cape Town 

| 021 012 5094 | contact@nu.org.za | 

www.nu.org.za | f NdifunaUkwazi 

ProBono.Org | Free legal services 

by volunteer private lawyers for people 

who cannot afford legal representation. 

Means test and qualifying criteria, as well 

as a comprehensive list of legal clinics 

throughout South Africa, on their website 

| Johannesburg: 011 339 6080 / info@ 

probono.org.za | Cape Town: 087 470 

0721 / infocpt@probono.org.za | Durban: 

031 301 6178 / dbninfo@probono.org.za | 

www.probono.org.za | f ProBono.Org 

Public Interest Legal Services in South 

Africa (PILS) | This is not an organisation, 

but a website with information about how to 

access free legal assistance from law clinics, 

legal aid centres, advice offices, pro bono 

work by attorneys and advocates, university 

centres, civil society organisations, and legal 

research and advocacy organisations that 

work to advance and protect the rights of 

vulnerable and marginalised people, and 

to hold powerful actors to account. The 

website provides an interactive map that 

lists public interest legal service providers 

by province and by type of organisation. The 

“Issues” tab provides a list of the areas of 

intervention addressed. Selecting a specific 

issue such as “Workers’ Rights” will send you 

to an explanation of the area of work and 

list of organisations you can contact directly 

| All listed organisations are limited to 

taking cases that fall under their areas 

of intervention and for which they have 

capacity | www.pils.org.za 

SASLAW Pro Bono NPC | Offers pro 

bono (free) advisory and legal services 

in South Africa’s four Labour Courts 

in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town 

and Gqeberha/PE, to people who do 

not have access to justice and to nonprofit 

organisations that do not have the 

means to pay for legal services | www. 

saslawprobono.co.za OR www.saslaw.org.za 

> Pro Bono | 

Eastern Cape | 041 364 3119 / 084 421 

9804 | ecprobono@saslaw.org.za 

Gauteng | 011 359 5777 | 

joburgprobono@saslaw.org.za 

KwaZulu Natal | 060 733 2593 | 

saslawkzn@saslaw.org.za 

Western Cape | 021 762 4498 | 

westerncape@saslaw.org.za 

SECTION 27 | A public interest law 

centre guided by the principles and values 

in the Constitution. Uses law, advocacy, 

legal literacy, research and community 

mobilisation to achieve equality and social 

justice in South Africa, with specific focus 

on Education, Health and Governance | 

South Point Corner Bldg, 87 De Korte St, 


4100 | info@section27.org.za or contact 

via the website | section27.org.za 


/ Legal Services Unit | Provides legal 

services for the protection of human 

rights in South Africa. Lodge a complaint 

about individual or institutional human 

rights violations via their website | www. 

sahrc.org.za > Lodge A Complaint | Or 

download the complaint form in any official 

language, complete it in your own time, and 

email it to complaints@sahrc.org.za | Or 




t 

CAPACITY-BUILDING & SUPPORT 

FOR WORKERS AND THEIR 

ORGANISATIONS 

Also see CAPACITY-BUILDING ORGANISATIONS 

in the CIVIL SOCIETY pages, as well as DISPUTE 

RESOLUTION, below. 

Cry of the Xcluded | The SA Federation 

of Trade Unions, the Association of 

Mineworkers and Construction Union, and 

the Assembly of the Unemployed have 

launched this initiative to unite millions 

of unemployed & precariously employed 

people in their fight for jobs, services & 

dignity | www.unemployedassembly.org. 

za/xcluded | f Cry of the Xcluded 

Department of Employment & Labour 

| Responsible for employment matters, 

including industrial relations, job creation, 

unemployment insurance & occupational 

health & safety | Laboria Hse, 215 Francis 

Baard St, Tshwane/Pretoria | 012 309 

4000 / 4054 / 5000: Ask for details of a 

Labour Centre near you | GautengPO@ 

labour.gov.za | gp.customercare@labour. 

gov.za | www.labour.gov.za 

Labour and Employment Relations 

Association of South Africa (LERASA) 

| Promotes rights at work, encourages 

decent employment opportunities, 

enhances social protection and strengthens 

dialogue on work-related issues between 

individuals & institutions involved in Labour 

& Employment Relations | 260 Basden 

Ave, Lyttelton, Tshwane/Pretoria | 012 

644 8100 | info@lerasa.org.za | www. 

lerasa.org.za | f Lerasa0126448100 

People’s Media Consortium (PMC) | 

Aims to contribute to the promotion 

and protection of human, democratic 

and labour rights by strengthening the 

media and organising the capacity of poor 

communities and unemployed/vulnerable 

workers in South Africa to take up their own 

interests through democratic mass media 

interventions | wwmp.org.za/projects/ 

peoples-media-consortium 

Section27 | Resources to help people 

– Martin Luther King, Jr. 

understand the law & their rights. In 

particular, look for and download YOUR 

RIGHTS AT WORK | South Point Corner 

Bldg, 87 De Korte St, Braamfontein | 011 

356 4100 | info@section27.org.za | 

https://section27.org.za 

The South African Labour Guide | A 

private company in Tshwane/Pretoria with 

comprehensive and useful information 

concerning labour issues on their website 

| 012 661 3208 / 012 666 8284 | 

advice@labourguide.co.za | www. 

labourguide.co.za 

Worker’s World Media Productions 

(WWMP) | Specialises in developing 

democratic mass media and organisational 

platforms that focus on socio-economic 

and political issues that affect communities. 

Offers education, training and organising 

support to trade unions and working-class 

communities | wwmp.org.za 

DISPUTE RESOLUTION 

Also see the HUMAN RIGHTS pages 

elsewhere in the directory 

– Thomas Jefferson 

If you have a problem at work that cannot 

be directly resolved between the employer 

and yourself, and if you are a member of a 

Trade Union, call them first for advice and 

assistance at the CCMA. 

See TRADE UNIONS elsewhere in this section. 

Also see LEGAL SUPPORT & RESOURCES in the 

HUMAN RIGHTS pages. 

Commission for Conciliation, Mediation 

and Arbitration (CCMA) | Established 

to provide the country with an accessible, 

user-friendly and inexpensive labour 

dispute resolution system to promote 

labour market stability, social justice and job 

security. Contact them for complaints about 

unlawful dismissal, unfair labour practices, 

sexual harassment and discrimination in the 

workplace | National Office: 28 Harrison 

St, Johannesburg | info@ccma.org.za | 

www.ccma.org.za 

National | 011 377 6600 / 50 or toll-free: 

086 116 1616 

Bloemfontein | 051 411 1780 

Cape Town | 021 469 0180 

Durban | 031 362 2380 

East London | 043 711 5480 

Ekurhuleni | 011 845 9080 

Emalahleni | 013 655 2680 

George | 044 805 7780 

Johannesburg | 011 220 5080 

Kimberley | 053 836 7380 

Klerksdorp | 018 487 4680 

Mbombela | 013 755 7580 

National | 011 377 6680 

Newcastle | 034 328 2480 

Pietermaritzburg | 033 328 5080 

Polokwane | 015 287 7480 

Gqeberha/PE | 041 509 1080 

Port Shepstone | 039 688 3780 

Richards Bay | 035 799 3380 

Rustenburg | 014 591 6480 

Tshwane/Pretoria | 012 317 7880 

Vaal | 016 440 2780 

Welkom | 057 910 8380 

To report fraud or corruption at the CCMA 

call the Fraud Helpline on 0860 666 348 or 

contact the call-back number on 072 595 

9135, send a fax to 086 726 1681 or email 

ccma@thehelpline.co.za. 

SASLAW Pro Bono NPC | A non-profit 

company formed by the South African 

Society for Labour Law (SASLAW). Offers 

pro bono (free) advisory and legal services 

in South Africa’s four Labour Courts 

in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town 

and Gqeberha/PE, to people who do 

not have access to justice and to nonprofit 

organisations that do not have the 

means to pay for legal services | www. 

saslawprobono.co.za OR www.saslaw.org.za 

> Pro Bono | 

Eastern Cape | 041 364 3119 / 084 421 

9804 | ecprobono@saslaw.org.za 

Gauteng | 011 359 5777 | 

joburgprobono@saslaw.org.za 

KwaZulu Natal | 060 733 2593 | 

saslawkzn@saslaw.org.za 

Western Cape | 021 762 4498 | 

westerncape@saslaw.org.za 




OCCUPATIONAL INJURY OR DISEASE 

If you are injured, become disabled, 

contract a disease or die in the course 

of your work, you or your dependants 

can claim compensation through the 

Compensation Fund, if you were: 

• permanently employed 

• a domestic worker in a business set-up 

• an apprentice or trainee farm worker 

• a worker paid by a labour agency. 

You cannot claim if you are: 

• a domestic worker at a private home 

• a member of the Defence or Police Force 

• a sub-contractor . Employees of the subcontractor 

are, however, covered. 

• found guilty of willful misconduct 

To obtain compensation benefits your 

employer must submit a Claim Registration 

Form WCL 2 to the Compensation Fund 

(see below) within 12 months after the 

accident or death, or after the disease was 

diagnosed. 

Are you an employer with one or more 

employees? You are required, by law, to 

register with the Compensation Fund for 

insurance cover in the event of injuries, 

disease or deaths at your workplace. 

Compensation Fund (CF) | Provides 

compensation for disability, illness and 

death resulting from occupational injuries 

and diseases | Compensation House, 167 

Thabo Sehume St, Delta Heights Building, 

Tshwane/Pretoria | 012 319 9163 / 012 

306 5843 / 086 010 5350 | www.labour. 

gov.za > Compensation Fund 

GOVERNMENT BODIES 

Department of Employment and Labour 

| Info-rich website – for workers and 

employers | Laboria House, 215 Francis 

Baard St, Tshwane/Pretoria | 012 309 

4000/5000 | Find provincial contact 

information on the website | Use online 

contact form | www.labour.gov.za | f 

Department of Employment and Labour 

National Economic Development and 

Labour Council (Nedlac) | A public 

entity that enables Government, labour 

(trade unions), business and civil society 

(NPOs and community organisations) to 

negotiate, cooperate and solve economic, 

labour and development problems and 

related challenges facing the country | 

NEDLAC House, 14A Jellicoe Ave, Rosebank, 


nedlac.org.za | www.nedlac.org.za | f 

NedlacSA 

UIF helps to alleviate poverty 

through short-term unemployment 

insurance and other related 

benefits to qualifying workers. 

Employers are legally required to 

register ALL employees that work 

for them for more than 24 hours 

in a month – including domestic 

workers – with the UIF. 

Exceptions: 

n 

foreigners on short-term contracts 

n 

workers who are on a government 

old-age pension 

n 

workers on commission only. 

Employers must deduct 1% from 

the worker’s pay and add a 1% 

employer’s contribution, and pay 

this to the UIF or SARS before the 

7th business day of every month. 

Employees who are registered with 

the UIF and whose contributions are 

paid up to date can claim shortterm 

financial assistance for the 

following benefits covered by UIF. 

Conditions apply in all instances. 

1. Unemployment benefits | 

Available for 12 months maximum. 

2. Illness benefits | Two weeks. 

3. Maternity benefits | 17 weeks 

maternity leave. If you miscarry 

in the third trimester or the baby 

is stillborn, you can claim for 6 

weeks. 

4. Adoption benefits | If you 

legally adopt a child younger than 

two years old and you leave work 

to look after that child. 

5. Death benefits | The wife or 

husband and any minor children 

of the worker who has died 

can claim death benefits if the 

deceased had paid contributions 

to the UIF fund. 

You can claim UIF benefits at 

a labour centre near you (find 

addresses at www.labour.gov.za > 

Contacts > Labour-centres OR claim 

online at https://ufiling.labour.gov.za 

> uif > unemployment-benefits) 

There are different procedures 

Here's what you need to know about the 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND (UIF) 

for claiming the various available 

benefits. In all instances, you will 

need the following (if you’re claiming 

death benefits, you’ll need these for the 

deceased worker): 

n 

Your South African bar-coded 

identity document 

n 

A copy of your last six payslips 

n 

A form UI-19, supplied by your 

employer 

n 

A service certificate from the 

employer 

n 

A completed registration form 

Each claim has its own rules and 

additional requirements, e.g.: 

n 

Unemployment benefits | You 

need to register as a work seeker 

and be prepared to: 

• Go for training or career 

counselling if required 

• Be available to work, if you are 

offered work 

• Actively look for work. You will 

get a form that needs to be 

signed showing that you have 

looked for work and that there 

are no jobs available. 

n 

Illness benefits | A doctor’s 

medical certificate. 

n 

Maternity benefits | Medical 

doctor’s certificate or birth 

certificate of the baby, as well as 

additional UIF application forms. 

n 

Adoption benefits | The 

adoption order. 

n 

Death benefits | You must 

claim within six months of the 

death of the worker and will need 

the following documents: 

• Certified death certificate copy. 

• A certified copy of your 

marriage certificate. 

• A certified copy of the child/ 

children’s birth certificate. 

• Proof of your banking details. 

Useful contacts | 

n 

www.labour.gov.za > Contacts > 

Labour-centres 

n 

https://ufiling.labour.gov.za/uif 

n 

Free UIF hotline | 0800 030 007 

n 

ufiling.labour.gov.za/uif 


>>>


“It is unacceptable that the 

million or so of women who 

clean our homes, help raise 

our children, care for our 

elderly and provide security 

to our households are not 

themselves effectively cared 

for by our society.” 

– Phelisa Nkomo 

domestic workers 

You have the right to work 

without sexual harassment, 

physical harm, verbal abuse 

or exploitation and unfair 

treatment. 

You are entitled to be paid 

at least the minimum wage 

as set by the Department of 

Employment & Labour every 

year. However, the minimum 

wage should be used for staff 

with no experience or training. 

If you’re experienced, go ahead 

and ask for a market-related 

price for your level of work. 

When you start a new job, 

you have the right to ask for a 

clear job description, as well as 

written confirmation of your 

pay, days and hours of work, 

leave and deductions. 

Medical insurance, loans, 

pension fund contributions, 

savings and rent may be 

deducted from your wages 

but ONLY with your written 

permission. Make sure you 

understand anything that you 

are asked to sign. 

The employer may not 

deduct more than 10% of 

your total monthly pay for 

accommodation that they 

provide. The accommodation 

must be in good condition 

and weatherproof, must have 

at least one door and one 

window, and a bath or shower 

and toilet – or you must have 

access to a bathroom. You 

have the right to stay in any 

accommodation provided by 

your employer for one month 

after receiving their notice. 

Money may not be deducted 

from your wages for meals 

during working hours, tools or 

work equipment, breakages, 

damages, training or uniforms. 

45 hours is a standard working 

week – any hours over that 

must be paid at the overtime 

rate of one-and-a-half times 

your usual wage. 

You shouldn’t work overtime 

for more than three hours a 

day or 15 hours a week. 

You must be given a rest 

period of 12 hours in a row 

Photo | Tshikululu Social Investments | www.tshikululu.org.za | Courtesy of Anglo American Chairman’s Fund


every 24 hours as well as 36 

hours together at least once a 

week. You are entitled to a meal 

break of one hour if you work for 

more than five hours in a row. 

If you usually work on Sundays, 

you should be paid one-and-ahalf 

times your usual hourly rate. 

But if you don’t normally work on 

a Sunday, you must be paid two 

times your usual hourly wage. 

If you work more than 24 hours 

per month for an employer, you 

are entitled to: 

Full pay for public holidays that 

fall on a day that you ordinarily 

would have worked, even if you 

don’t work that day. You may not 

be forced to work on a public 

holiday, but if you agree to work, 

you must be paid double wages 

for the day. 

You must be paid for any day that 

you’re scheduled to work, even if 

your employer is away and does 

not require you to work on that 

Over a period of 3 years, you 

have the right to paid sick leave 

equal to the number of days you 

usually work every six weeks. In 

the first 6 months of a job, you 

are allowed 1 paid sick day for 

every 26 days worked. 

You are entitled to 4 months of 

unpaid maternity leave, starting 

one month before the expected 

birth of the baby. You may not 

return to work for six weeks 

after the birth of the child. Your 

employer is not legally obliged to 

pay any salary during this time 

but may choose to pay a portion 

of it. You can claim UIF maternity 

benefits of between 38% – 58% of 

your monthly salary for 17 weeks 

(roughly 4 weeks). You should 

apply at least eight weeks before 

giving birth. 

If you have been employed for 

longer than 4 months for at least 

4 days a week, you may take 3 

days of paid family responsibility 

severance pay for every year 

that you have worked for the 

employer. 

Suitable transport must be 

available between your home 

and the workplace at the start 

and end of your work shift. If 

transport is not available after 

sunset or before sunrise, your 

employer must ensure that you 

get safely transported between 

home and work. 

Your employer must provide a 

‘Certificate of Service’ at the end 

of your employment, specifying 

the period of employment and 

the duties fulfilled. 

If you are unfairly dismissed, you 

have the right to take your matter 

to the CCMA within 30 days of 

being dismissed. n 

Sources | www.blacksash.org. za 

| www.labour.gov.za | 

www.labourguide.co.za 

TheSE ARE YOUR rights 

day, unless a mutually suitable 

‘make-up’ day is agreed to. 

You are entitled to fully paid 

annual leave equivalent to 21 

days a year paid at the normal 

rate. If you work part-time, this is 

calculated at 1 hour of fully paid 

leave for every 17 hours worked. 

Your employer MUST deduct 

1% of your pay and contribute 

another 1%, which must be paid 

to the Unemployment Insurance 

Fund (UIF) each month. The 

employer must provide proof 

of this payment to you. Paying 

UIF allows you to claim benefits 

should you become unemployed 

in the future. It is illegal for your 

employer NOT to deduct and pay 

the UIF every month – even if 

you’re ‘part-time’. 

leave during each leave cycle 

for when your child is sick or 

if one of the following people 

dies: your husband, wife, life 

partner, parent, adoptive parent, 

grandparent, child, adopted child, 

grandchild, brother or sister. 

You may not be fired for taking 

part in a legal strike or for being 

pregnant. 

You are entitled to at least 4 

weeks’ termination notice if 

you have been working for your 

employer for over 6 months. You 

are entitled to one week’s notice 

if you have been working for your 

employer for less than 6 months. 

If you are dismissed because of 

the employer’s changing needs 

or because he/she doesn’t have 

enough money anymore, then 

you are entitled to one week’s 

• 

Always ask for a 

reference letter 

It could be your ticket to the 

next job! 

A reference letter is a 

substitute for a personal 

introduction. It is 100 times 

more convincing than anything 

you can say about yourself. So, 

ALWAYS ask for one when your 

employment is terminated or 

if you work ‘piece jobs’. 

Keep all references clean in 

an envelope, with a piece 

of cardboard backing to 

keep them from becoming 

crumpled. n


LAND, HOUSING & ESSENTIAL SERVICES 

t 

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT BODIES 

Cities Support Programme (CSP) | A 

Government agency that enhances 

the capacity of South African city-led 

transformation. Its resource-rich website 

has a Knowledge Hub with info on the 

Department of Human Settlements 

programmes, City Governance, Planning 

Reforms, Urban Mobility, Public Transport, 

Economic Development, Climate Resilience 

and more | 40 Church Square, Pretoria 

Central | 012 315 5580 | https://csp. 

treasury.gov.za 

Department of Human Settlements (DHS) 

| Works through many interventions, 

assistance and subsidy programmes, in 

conjunction with banks, businesses, NPOs 

& municipalities to make it possible for all 

South Africans to access adequate housing 

– a right enshrined in our Constitution | 

Govan Mbeki House, 240 Justice Mahomed 

St, Sunnyside, Tshwane/Pretoria | 012 

444 9000 / 0800 146 873 | info@dhs.gov. 

za | www.dhs.gov.za 

National Housing Finance Corporation 

SOC Ltd (NHFC) | Innovative and 

affordable housing finance solutions for 

the low-to-middle income housing market: 

to rent, own or incrementally build to meet 

their housing needs. Info-rich website | 

011 644 9800 | www.nhfc.co.za | f 

National Housing Finance Corporation 

The Housing Development Agency (HDA) 

| A national public sector development 

agency that acquires, prepares & develops 

land, and manages the development of 

housing & human settlements | Megawatt 

Park, 1 Maxwell Dr, Sunninghill, Gauteng | 

011 544 1000 | www.thehda.co.za | f 

Housing Development Agency 

ESSENTIAL SERVICES 

The Government is legally obligated to 

provide access to basic services such as 

water, sanitation & refuse removal to all 

South Africans. 

– Joe Slovo 

Hold elected officials accountable. Read: 

Here’s How to Become an Active Citizen 

and Make Your Voice Heard in the CIVIL 

SOCIETY pages to learn how. 

Or go to International Budget 

Tube 

Partnership South Africa on and find 

You 

a video Service Delivery Contacts in... 

[look for YOUR region – otherwise watch 

any of them] to see what action you can 

take and who to contact to have your 

community’s constitutional right to 

essential services fulfilled. 

– Asivikelane.org 

Also see: 

• UNDERSTANDING & INFLUENCING BUDGETS 

in the CIVIL SOCIETY pages 

• INFORMATION, TOOLS, RESOURCES & 

SUPPORT, elsewhere in this section. 

ENERGY 

Department of Energy | Problems 

with electricity or energy supply? | www. 

energy.gov.za 

• Eastern Cape | Waverley Office Park, 

3 – 33 Philip Frame Rd, Chiselhout, East 

London | 043 703 6000 

• Free State | The Strip Bldg, 314 

Stateway St, Cnr Stateway & Bok Sts, 

Welkom | 057 391 1326 / 1300 

• Gauteng | Matimba HOUSE BUILDING, 

192 Visagie St, Cnr Paul Kruger St, 

Tshwane/Pretoria | 0 12 406 8000 

• KwaZulu Natal | 333 Durban 

Bayhouse, Durban 

• Limpopo | 18A Landros Mare St, 

Polokwane | 015 230 3600 

• Mpumalanga | ABSA Bldg, 131 Cnr 

Rhodes & Haigh Ave, Witbank | 013 

658 1400 

• North West | Katlego House, 21 

Connaught St, Golf View, Mafikeng | 

018 397 8600 / 8601 / 8602 / 8603 / 8604 

• Northern Cape | Telkom Bldg, 41 

Schmidtsdrift Rd, Cnr Drakensburg Ave, 

Kimberley | 053 807 1700/92 

• Western Cape | 9 Atterbury House, 

Cnr Van Riebeeck & Lower Burg Sts, Cape 

Town | 021 427 1001 

Or contact the ministerial offices directly: 

• Cape Town | 120 Plein St | 021 469 6425 

• Tshwane/Pretoria | 192 Visagie St, Cnr 

Paul Kruger St | 012 406 7612 

• Community Outreach Officer | 012 

444 3830 

Eskom | South Africa’s state-owned 

electricity utility. Generates approximately 

95% of electricity used in SA | Ways to 

contact Eskom | 

• Online, using Eskom’s chatbot, at this URL: 

https://alfred.eskom.co.za/chatroom/ 

• Download the MyEskom Customer app 

• Call the sharecall number: 08600 (Eskom) 

/ 0860 037 566 

• Email: customerservices@eskom.co.za 

• Use the Eskom customer service website: 

https://csonline.eskom.co.za/ 

No service after taking the above steps? 

Escalate the complaint to the relevant 

Customer Relations Manager in your town/ 

province. Find the contact details here: 

www.eskom.co.za > Customer Service > 

Complaint handling process | Report 

crimes on the toll-free crime line: 0800 11 

27 22 | www.eskom.co.za 

WATER & SANITATION 

Department of Water and Sanitation 

| 0800 200 200 | info@dws. 

gov.za | www.dws.gov.za | f 

WaterAndSanitationRSA 

• Eastern Cape | Bisho | 043 705 9223 

• Eastern Cape | East London | 043 

705 9200 

• Eastern Cape | Gqeberha/PE | 041 

506 2258 / 041 360 7811 

• Free State | Bloemfontein | 051 405 8191 

• Gauteng | 

• Johannesburg 24-Hour helpline | 011 

688 1500 / 011 688 1400 


• KwaZulu Natal | Durban | 080 131 

3013 | 24-Hour SMS only: 083 707 3013 

• KwaZulu Natal | Pietermaritzburg | 

080 000 1868 

• Limpopo | Polokwane | 015 290 2000 

• Mpumalanga | Mbombela/Nelspruit | 

013 752 6839 


and co 


LAND, HOUSING & ESSENTIAL SERVICES 

• North West | 

• Klerksdorp | 018 406 8374 

• Mahikeng/Mafikeng | 018 389 0381/ 0 

• Northern Cape | Kimberley | 053 

830 6836 

• Western Cape | Cape Town | 0860 103 089 

Drinkable Water 

If you ever find yourself with only 

dirty water, pour it through a clean 

cloth. To do this without help, 

wear an apron, hold up the ends 

and pour the water through the 

apron into a clean container below. 

Repeat with a fresh cloth or use 

double cloth. Then, if possible, boil 

the water before drinking it. 

Keep water covered and, preferably, 

not in plastic which contains 

hazardous chemical compounds 

that can leach into water and 

adversely affect human health. 

Glass jars, clay pots or dried 

calabashes are best for storing 

drinking water. 



Club together in your affluent 

community to install wells and rain 

or well water harvesting tanks at 

community centres and community 

gardens in an informal settlement or 

under-resourced township near where 

you live. Work with specialists to 

ensure the installations are functional 

and that water treatment and usage 

education are part of the deal. 

Harvesting rainwater supplements 

existing water supplies with free water 

and also mitigates flooding. 

WASTE REMOVAL 

Your local municipality is responsible 

for waste management in your area, 

including refuse removal, refuse dumps, 

solid waste disposal and keeping 

the environment clean. Hold them 

accountable! 

MUNICIPAL SUPPORT FOR 

INDIGENT (POOR) HOUSEHOLDS 

Also see the SOCIAL WELFARE & 

HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT pages, elsewhere in 

the directory. 

The following free or very low-cost basic 

municipal services are available to 

qualifying households. 

Free basic water | At least a basic 

amount of 6 000 litres of water per month 

per household. You have to pay for water 

that is used over and above the free supply. 

The free amount may differ from one 

municipality to the next. 

Free basic electricity | 50kWh is 

provided, free, per household per month for 

a grid-energy system (connected through the 

national electrification programme). 

Consumers who do not have access to 

the electricity grid could be provided with 

alternative sources of energy. Contact your 

municipality to find out what’s available. 

Sewerage and sanitation | Subsidised 

up to R50 per month or 100% subsidy to 

indigent households. 

HOUSING 

– www.gov.za/humansettlements 

According to Statistics South Africa’s 

General Household Survey of 2019, 

81,9% of all households reside in formal 

dwellings, 12,7% live in informal dwellings 

and 5,1% in traditional dwellings. There 

are over 2,600 informal settlements in 

South Africa, accommodating about 1.4 

million households. Informal dwellings 

are most common in the City of Cape 

Town (19,6%), Johannesburg (19,1%) and 

Ekurhuleni (18,4%). Traditional dwellings 

are most common in the Eastern Cape 

(23,0%) and KwaZulu-Natal (13,1%). 

Following are some of the Government’s 

programmes to enable as many as 

possible South Africans to live in formal 

dwellings, with access to, at least, water, 

sanitation and waste removal. 

EMERGENCY HOUSING 

Also see: 

• DISASTER RELIEF in the CRISIS SUPPORT pages 

• EVICTIONS & FORCED REMOVALS elsewhere 

in this section 

• SOCIAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS (SRD) GRANT, 

as well as SHELTER & SUPPORT FOR 

HOMELESS, IMPOVERISHED & ADDICTED 

PEOPLE in the SOCIAL WELFARE & 

HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT pages 

– Sheila McKechnie 

Local municipalities are responsible 

for providing temporary shelter and 

basic municipal services in response to 

emergency situations, such as when: 

• Existing shelters are destroyed or damaged 

• Existing situations pose an immediate 

threat to the lives, health and safety of 

inhabitants 

• People have been evicted or face the 

threat of eviction. 

Contact the Housing Offices at your 

local municipality to ask about available 

programmes in your area. Or contact 

a relevant NPO listed elsewhere in this 

section, and ask for assistance. It is your 

right to live in adequate accommodation. 

UPGRADING INFORMAL 

SETTLEMENTS 

National Upgrading Support 

Programme (NUSP) | An initiative of 

the Department of Human Settlements 

(DHS) to assist provinces and municipalities 

in implementing the Upgrading Informal 

Settlements Programme (UISP). The 

programme offers: 

• Incremental situational upgrading within 

the settlement 

• Access to basic infrastructure and 

municipal services such as water, 

sanitation, waste removal and electricity 

(where possible). 



LGBTQI+ 

– Ngan Tengyuen 

t 

ADVOCACY, CAPACITY-BUILDING, 

LEGAL & OTHER SUPPORT 

See also PROTECTING LGBTQI+ LEARNERS in 

the EDUCATION: RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS & 

EDUCATORS pages elsewhere in the directory 

INTERNATIONAL 

Africa’s Pride | News and dialogue 

focusing on LGBTQI+ issues in Africa such 

as health, education, gender, human rights, 

justice and equality | WhatsApp: +27 62 

742 1150 | f africasprideLGBTIAQP 

Coalition of African Lesbians | A 

feminist, activist and Pan-Africanist network 

of 14 organisations in 10 countries in sub- 

Saharan Africa committed to advancing 

freedom, justice and bodily autonomy for 

all women and to raising consciousness 

amongst and strengthening activism and 

leadership of lesbian women | 58 The 

Valley Rd, Parktown, Johannesburg, South 

Africa | 011 403 0007 / 0158 / 0114 | 

info@cal.org.za | www.cal.org.za | f 

CoalitionCAL 

Global Interfaith Network (GIN) | An 

international membership-led NPO that 

promotes safe spaces, policy inclusion, 

support and acceptance of all people, 

regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, 

gender identity and/or gender expression. 

Resource-rich website | Based in 


gin-ssogie.org | www.gin-SSOGIE.org | 

f globalinterfaithnetwork 

International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, 

Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) 

| Brings together more than 1,300 LGBTI 

groups from 140+ countries. Campaigns for 

LGBTI human rights, regularly petitions the 

United Nations and governments | www. 

You 

Tube 

ilga.org | f ILGAworld | ilgaworld 

OutRight Action International (OutRight) 

| An international LGBTQI human rights 

non-governmental organisation that – in 

partnership with local activists, media and 

NGOs – documents and addresses human 

rights discrimination, violations and abuses 

against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender 

and intersex people based on their sexual 

orientation, gender identity, gender 

expression and sex characteristics | www. 

outrightinternational.org | f outrightintl 

NATIONAL 

Access Chapter 2 | Promotes the 

human rights and empowerment of LGBTI+ 

persons. Creates space and coordinating 

platforms to facilitate participation on all 

matters affecting LGBTI+ persons. You can 

report human rights violations and other 

incidents on the website | JSL Towers, 

255 Pretorius St, Tshwane/Pretoria | 010 

100 3177 / WhatsApp helpline: 076 457 

3256 | info@ac2.org.za | www.ac2.org. 

za | f AccessChapter2 

Agenda (Agenda Feminist Media) | 

Empowers women for gender equity by 

providing a forum for women to articulate 

and voice their needs and interests. 

Publishes a feminist journal titled Agenda – 

see image above. Covers all issues related 

to women, including LGBTQI+ issues. 

Resource-rich website | admin@agenda. 

org.za | www.agenda.org.za 

Be True 2 Me | A non profit organisation 

supporting Trans Gender/ Non-Binary / 

Intersex / Gender Queer individuals and 

those connected with them. Resourcerich 

website: articles, guidelines, events, 

workshops, support groups and more | 

WhatsApp: 081 455 1183 | Contact via 

the website | www.betrue2me.org | f 

BeTrue2MeOrg 

Centre for the Study of Violence and 

Reconciliation | A multi-disciplinary 

institute that seeks to understand 

and prevent violence, heal its effects, 

build sustainable peace, enhance state 

accountability, promote gender equality, and 

build social cohesion, integration and active 

citizenship. Partners with communities in 

order to address the root causes of violence 

and respond to its consequences directly. 

• Johannesburg | 33 Hoof St, 

Braampark Forum 5, Johannesburg | 

011 403 5650 | info@csvr.org.za 

• Cape Town | 501 Premier Centre, 451 

Main Rd, Observatory | 021 447 2470 

| ctadmin@csvr.org.za 

Resource-rich website | www.csvr.org.za 

| f TheCSVR 

Commission for Gender Equality 

| Monitors policies and practices of 

government and the private sector to 

promote and protect gender & LGBTI 

equality. Provides public education and 

information. Website contains useful articles 

& info. Reviews existing and upcoming 

legislation from a gender perspective. 

Investigates complaints on any gender 

related issue. REPORT GENDER VIOLENCE 

AND ABUSE, toll-free on: 0800 007 709 or 

contact one of the offices in your province 

• Head Office: Gauteng | Old Women’s 

Jail, Constitutional Hill, 2 Kotze St, 

Braamfontein, Jhb | 011 403 7182 

• Eastern Cape | 3 – 33 Phillip Frame Rd, 

Waverly Park, East London | 043 722 

3489 

• Free State | 49 Charlotte Maxeke St, 

2nd Floor Fedsure Bldg, Bloemfontein | 

051 430 9348 

• Gauteng | Praetor Forum Bldg, 267 

Lilian Ngoyi St, Tshwane/Pretoria CBD | 

012 341 6090 

• KwaZulu-Natal | 40 Dr A.B Xuma Rd, 

Commercial City, Durban | 031 305 2105 

• Limpopo | Cnr. Grobler & Schoeman 

Str, 106 Library Gardens Square, 

Polokwane | 015 291 3070 

• Mpumalanga | 32 Belle St, Mbombela/ 

Nelspruit | 013 755 2428 

• North West | 38 Molopo Rd, Mahikeng/ 



LGBTQI+ 

Mafikeng | 018 381 1505 

• Northern Cape | 143 Du Toitspan Rd, 

Kimberley | 053 832 0477 

• Western Cape | 132 Adderley St, ABSA 

Bldg, Cape Town | 021 426 4080 

info@cge.org.za | www.cge.org.za | f 

You 

Tube 

Commission for Gender Equality | 

Commission for Gender Equality 


Development | Contact them or visit the 

website for information and support. The 

homepage contains links to many useful 

resources. Search any LGBTQI term for 

current and historic publications | 329 

Pretorius St, Cnr Sisulu St, Tshwane/Pretoria 

| 012 315 1111 / 012 315 8130/1 | 

www.justice.gov.za | f DoJCD 

Foundation for Human Rights | 

Supports civil society organisations and 

public institutions to promote and facilitate 

increased awareness, respect, protection 

and fulfilment of human rights contained 

in the Constitution. Partnered with the 


Development to form the LGBTI+ National 

Task Team in response to the high levels 

of violence experienced by LGBTI+ people 

in South Africa. Contact them if your rights 

have been violated | 011 593 4000 / 011 

484 0390 | info@fhr.org.za | www.fhr. 

org.za | f FHRights 

– Editor 

Gay and Lesbian Archives (GALA) | A 

centre for LGBTQI culture, news and 

education, as well as a permanent home 

for a wide range of historical and archival 

material relating to LGBTQI experience in 

South Africa. Contributes to social justice 

and promotes the human rights of LGBTQI 

people on the continent | University 

Corner, Cnr Jorissen & Bertha Sts, 


4239 | Nobantu.nqolobe@wits.ac.za | 

www.gala.co.za | f GALA97 

Gender Links | A Southern African NGO 

that is committed to an inclusive, equal 

and just society in which women & girls 

in all their diversities exercise their voice 

and choice in public and in private. Focus 

areas: Sexual reproductive health and 

rights, Economic justice, Women’s political 

participation, Gender and media, and 

Gender and climate justice | 9 Derrick 

Ave, Cyrildene, Johannesburg, Gauteng | 

011 209 0006 / 011 028 2410 | media@ 

genderlinks.org.za | www.genderlinks.org. 

You 

Tube 

za | f GenderLinks | GMDCSADC 

Hivos | Supports LGBTQI+ people in 

lobbying for legal and policy changes that 

promote inclusion – particularly increased 

socio-economic inclusion – acceptance, 

visibility and diversity, and the right to make 

decisions in all spheres of life (including 

their own body), to change power relations 

based on gender and to demand equal 

access to productive resources | 011 

726 1090 | info@hivos.co.za | https:// 

southern-africa.hivos.org | www.hivos.org 

– From the Christian Bible: 

Galatians 3:28 

Inclusive & Affirming Ministries (IAM) 

| Works towards the full recognition, 

celebration and participation of LGBTQI+ 

people in faith communities across Africa | 

Based in Cape Town | 021 975 8142 | 

info@iam.org.za | www.iam.org.za | f 

IAM587 

– Sojourners | www.sojo.net 

Iranti | A media advocacy organisation 

that documents, advocates for and defends 

the human rights of LGBTI+ persons 

in Africa. Resource-rich website | 30 

Wimbledon Ave, Brixton | 011 339 1476 

/ 1468 | getinfo@iranti.org.za | www. 

iranti.org.za | f IrantiOrg 

LGBTI Dignity | A safe space for the 

LGBTQI community | 1310 Stanza 

People ask whether gays 

and lesbians should be allowed 

to be foster parents or to adopt. 

What is it that heterosexual 

people think we do? 

Karen and I are normal, 

everyday people: we are 

parents, we run a business 

together, we are fortunate 

enough to have a bond to pay, 

we clean house, cook food, 

do homework with the kids ... 

– Beth Bellavance-Grace 

foster and adoptive lesbian mother 


More than a century of research 

on households, kinship 

relationships, and families, 

across cultures and through 

time, provide no support 

whatsoever for the view that 

civilization depends upon 

marriage as an exclusively 

heterosexual institution. Rather, 

anthropological research 

supports the conclusion that 

a vast array of family types, 

including families built upon 

same-sex partnerships, 

can contribute to stable and 

humane societies. 

– The American Anthropological 

Association 



50 

MEN & BOYS 

Shades 

of Love 

1. Passion 2. Joy 3. Intimacy 4. Respect 5. Friendship 6. Sacrifice 7. Compassion 

8. Freedom 9. Inside Jokes 10. Safety 11. Laughter 12. Generosity 

13. Consideration 14. Adventure 15. Excitement 16. Loyalty 17. Trust 

18. Butterflies 19. Hope 20. Quality Time 21. Service 22. Empathy 23. Connection 

24. Admiration 25. Patience 26. Appreciation 27. Commitment 28. Communication 

29. Growth 30. Imperfection 31. Affection 32. Tenderness 33. Affirmation 

34. Teamwork 35. Kindness 36. Equality 37. Pleasure 38. Compromise 

39. Partnership 40. Independence 41. Happiness 42. Honesty 43. Devotion 

44. Faithfulness 45. Fulfilment 46. Romance 47. Support 

48. Family 49. Togetherness 50. Understanding 

Photo: Jessica Felicio 

Order the poster at www.southafricanconversations.co.za/shop


MEN & BOYS 

– Edwin Louis Cole 

t 

ADDICTIONS 

The majority of cases of violence against 

women and children are drug-induced. 

If you are a perpetrator of violence, 

please get the help that you need so that 

you can stop hurting others. 

See the SUBSTANCE ABUSE & ADDICTION 

as well as the MENTAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH 

pages elsewhere in the directory. 

CIRCUMCISION 

Circumcision is the surgical removal of 

the skin covering the tip of the penis for 

religious, medical or cultural reasons. It 

is common for newborn boys in certain 

parts of the world, such as Israel, and a 

rite of passage for older boys in many 

African countries. Circumcision in South 

Africa is not permitted in boys below the 

age of 16 without medical or religious 

reasons or parental permission. 

Research shows male circumcision 

reduces HIV transmission risk by up to 

60%. (Condoms remain the best protection.) 

Call 082 808 6152 to find a clinic 

that provides free, safe medical 

circumcisions near where you live. 

CIRCUMCISION INFORMATION 

Brothers For Life | Everything you’d want 

to know about circumcision. Select MEDICAL 

MALE CIRCUMCISION in the menu bar on 

their website | www.brothersforlife.org 

WHO VMMC | An app with free access 

to Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision 

(VMMC) guidelines and resources from the 

World Health Organisation (WHO) 

HELP FOR BOTCHED 

CIRCUMCISIONS 

A small proportion of non-medical 

circumcisions carried out during 

initiation rites in South Africa are 

botched or become infected, sometimes 

leading to partial or total amputation 

of the penis – with devastating 

consequences for the young men 

involved. It is uncertain how many penile 

mutilations occur post-circumcision, 

but it is estimated around 250 young 

men are affected annually. Some penis 

amputations have only been found after 

a suicide. 

If you are affected by a circumcision 

gone wrong, seek medical help straight 

away. Ask your doctor to get in touch 

with the urology department at the 

closest big hospital to see if they can 

assist. Or contact the Department of 

Health to find out what services are 

available at which hospitals. 

It is possible for a penis to heal or to 

be surgically reconstructed – or even 

to have a total penis transplant that 

will allow you to live a normal life as a 

man. But YOU must speak up and trust 

a medical professional to help you. 

Eyabantwana Trust | Assists men 

who have had partial or complete penal 

amputations | East London Health 

Resource Center, Eastern Cape | 043 709 

4769 / 071 888 8833 | admin@eyaban 

twana.co.za | www.eyabantwana.co.za 

Tygerberg Hospital | Has conducted a 

number of successful penis transplants | 

021 938 4911 | Cape Town, WC 

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIP 

COUNSELLING 


ACVV | Family preservation and 

reintegration programmes, including 

parenting skills, counselling & mediation. 

115 affiliated branches in the Eastern Cape, 

North West, Northern Cape and Western 

Cape. Call for information about a branch 

near you | Head office: 61 Caledon St, 

Cape Town | 021 461 7437/7447 | 

info-hk@acvv.org.za | www.acvv.org.za | 

f ACVVHeadOffice 

BIRTH CONTROL FOR MEN 

Vasectomies | A 20-minute 

procedure that can be done in a 

doctor’s office. 

Vasectomies can be reversed at a 

later stage. 

Speak with your doctor or with a 

healthcare professional about it. 

AFM Welfare | Addresses family 

breakdown, poverty, crime, AIDS, substance 

abuse and addiction | Head office: 257 

Jean Ave, Centurion | 012 753 7940 | 

info@afmwelfare.org.za | www.afm-ags. 

org | f AFMWELFARE 

Badisa | Social services for families in the 

Eastern, Northern and Western Cape. Call 

for info about facilities near you | Head 

office: 021 957 7130 | info@badisa.org.za 

| www.badisa.org.za | f BadisaCharity 

CMR | Family preservation services through 

independently registered CMR NPOs: 

• CMR Burgersdorp | 079 112 9457 

| cmrburg@vodamail.co.za | f CMR 

Burgersdorp 

• CMR East London | 9 Gordon Rd, 

Southernwood | 043 722 6104 | 

manager@cmrel.co.za | www.cmrel. 

co.za | f cmreastlondon 

• CMR Humansdorp | 10 Piet Uys 

St, Humansdorp | 042 295 1103 | 

cmrhdorp@telkomsa.net | f CMR, 

Humansdorp 

• CMR PE | 116 Mount Rd, North End, 

Gqeberha/PE | 041 484 3554 | 

cmr-pe@webafrica.org.za | www. 

cmrportelizabeth.co.za | f CMR, PE 

• CMR Mpumalanga | Head office: 23 

Dr Beyers Naude St, Middelburg. Call for 

contact details of a CMR office near you 

| 013 243 4776 | adopt@cmroos. 

co.za | www.cmr-mpumalanga.co.za | 

f cmrmpumalanga 

• CMR Noord/North | Head office: 153 

Middel St, Nieu Muckleneuk, Tshwane/ 

Pretoria. Call for contact details of a 

Centre of Hope near you | 012 460 

9272/ 3/ 4 | cmr@cmrn.co.za | www. 




– Augusten Burroughs 

SUICIDE FACTS 

Warning Signs 

F Feelings | Does the individual 

you worry about express feelings of 

anxiety, depression, worthlessness 

or hopelessness about the future? 

A Actions | Is the individual 

displaying signs of severe or 

overwhelming physical or 

emotional pain or distress? Do they 

self-harm or have crying spells or 

outbursts of anger & aggression? 

C Changes | Are there marked 

changes in their behaviour? E.g.: 

sleeping and eating patterns, 

increased alcohol/drug consumption 

or withdrawal from friends? 

T Threats | Does the individual 

talk, write, sing, make art or jokes 

about suicide? 

S Situations | Has the individual 

been in conflict with family, 

colleagues, at school, or with 

the law? Have they experienced 

loss, difficult transitions, personal 

humiliation, sexual or emotional 

abuse? Have they recently been 

discharged from psychiatric care? 

If you notice more than one of 

these warning signs, take action! 

1. Tell them that you’re worried about 

what you’re observing. 

2. Ask if they’re thinking about suicide. 

3. Encourage them to call the 

Suicide Crisis Line: 0800 567 

567 or to SMS ‘help’ to 31393. Or 

contact any of the options listed 

under EMERGENCY NUMBERS 

& HELPLINES elsewhere in this 

section. 

4. Offer your ongoing support and, 

if you are concerned about their 

immediate safety, stay with them 

until help arrives. 

Information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical/mental 

health advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek advice from a qualified health 

professional regarding any mental health condition. 

t 

Mental health encompasses many issues, 

including financial and parenting 

stresses, fear of an unpredictable future, 

dealing with loss and grief, managing 

criticism, controlling substance use, and 

simply feeling OK about oneself. Take a 

look at the resources listed here and find 

the help you need. Do it today! 

CALL CHARGES 






EMERGENCY NUMBERS 

& HELPLINES 

If you are living with HIV and need counselling, 

see HIV/AIDS in the HEALTH pages 

• Adcock Ingram Depression & Anxiety 

Helpline | 0800 70 80 90 

• ADHD Helpline | 0800 55 44 33 

• Akeso Psychiatric Response Unit 24- 

Hour Crisis Helpline | 0861 435 787 

• SADAG | 

• 24 hr Mental Health Helpline | 0800 

456 789 or call 0800 21 22 23 (8am– 

8pm) / 0800 12 13 14 (8pm– 8am) 

• Suicide Crisis line | 0800 567 567 

• SMS ‘help’ to 31393 (they’ll call u back) 

• WhatsApp chat: 9 am-4 pm, Sun-Mon 

076 882 2775 

• Office hours: 011 234 4837 / 262 6396 

• LifeLine | 24 hours / 7 days a week 

national free counselling: 0861 322 322 

It will connect you to nearest available 

Lifeline centre. Or WhatsApp: 084 922 

8808 – ask for a call back. 

• Pharmadynamics Police & Trauma Line 

| 0800 20 50 26 

• National emergency ambulance | 

10177 or 122 from a cell phone 

• Suicide Crisis Line | 0800 567 567 

or SMS ‘help’ to 31393 and someone will 

call you 

If you reach out and can’t get through 

or nobody responds immediately or you 

don’t get the help you need or you don’t 

‘click’ with the first person you talk to, call 

again or ask to speak to someone else. 

Don’t stop looking for help until you 

find it, because the situation you’re in is 

temporary. It WILL change. And people 

do care. You are not alone, even though it 

may feel like that, right now. 

HELPLINES FOR THOSE WHO 

SERVE OTHERS 

• 24-Hour Care Network Helpline for 

Healthcare Workers | 0800 21 21 21 

/ SMS 43001 

• NPOwer SA, 24-Hour free mental 

health & support helpline for all NPO, 

NGO & NPC workers in SA | 0800 

515 515 / SMS 43010 | Do the anxiety 

survey on their site | www.npowersa. 

org | f Npowersa 

SOMEONE TO TALK TO 

Befrienders South Africa | Free and 

confidential emotional support – you don’t 

even have to say who you are | 24- 

Hour helpline: 051 444 5000 | Office 

hours: 8:30-12:30 Mon-Fri: 051 444 5691 

| befrienders@wsinet.co.za | www. 

befrienders.org > Select your country 

LifeLine South Africa | Free. Speak to a 

counsellor who will listen, offer emotional 

support, information about resources and 

professional counselling, and assist you to 

identify available options and choose for 

yourself | 011 715 2000 (office hours) 

| safetalking@lifeline.org.za | www. 

lifelinesa.co.za | f TheLifelineSouthAfrica 

24/7 national counselling lines | 




• GBV | 0800 150 150 (free to call or text) 

• HIV/AIDS | 0800 012 322 (toll-free call) 

• Crisis/emotional support | 0861 322 

322 (shared telephone cost.) Or WhatsApp 

084 922 8808 – text or ask for a call back. 

Or contact a Lifeline provincial centre 

(available only during office hours) | 

• Eastern Cape | 043 743 7266 

• Free State | 057 357 2746 

• Gauteng 

• Ekurhuleni | 011 421 0384 / 422 4242 

• Johannesburg | 011 728 1331 

• Krugersdorp | 011 665 2281 


• Vaal Triangle | 016 428 1740 / 428 1640 

• West Rand | 011 665 2281 

• KwaZulu-Natal 

• Durban | 031 303 1344 

• Pietermaritzburg | 033 342 4447 

• Zululand | 035 797 3250 / 789 2472 

• Limpopo | 015 291 2556 / 073 878 7593 

• Mpumalanga | 013 755 2635 

• North West 

• Klerksdorp | 018 462 7838 

• Mahikeng/Mafikeng | 018 381 0976 

• Rustenburg | 014 594 1592 / 3158 / 1455 

• Northern Cape | 053 050 1067 / 053 

832 8533 

• Western Cape | 

• Cape Town | 021 461 1113 

• Garden Route | 044 343 2769 

Contact a Lifeline centre close to you to 

volunteer your services or learn how to 

become a counsellor to help others. 

– Lilian Piwunu 

loveLife | Are you young and feeling 

powerless and hopeless? Talk to a loveLife 

counsellor. It’s free | 0800 121 900 or 

send a PLZ CAL ME to 083 323 1023 | 

talk@lovelife.org.za | www.lovelife.org.za 

| f loveLifeNGO 

Suicide Crisis Line | 24 hours / 7 days a 

week. Free. Ask to speak to someone in any 

of the official languages of South Africa | 

0800 567 567 

Many faith-based organisations also 

offer support in the form of spiritual 

guidance and counseling. If you can’t 

call someone, go to a church near 

where you live and ask to speak with 

the preacher or priest. 

Photo | Jan Tinneberg | Unsplash 

Are you 

looking for 

a sign not to 

give up? 

THIS IS IT! 

If you’re depressed, 

grieving, suicidal, 

traumatised, in an 

abusive relationship, 

HIV infected, addicted, 

unemployed, homeless 

or just feeling hopeless ... 

Find someone to talk to. 

Tell them what’s going 

on with you. 

Ask for help. It is free. 

Your life matters! 

GENERAL SUPPORT 

Also see MENTAL HEALTH in the EDUCATION: 

RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS & EDUCATORS 

pages elsewhere in the directory. 

Doing What Matters 

in Times of Stress: 

An Illustrated Guide 

GROUNDING UNHOOKING 

MAKING ROOM 

ENGAGING BEING KIND 

ACTING ON YOUR VALUES 

Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: 

An Illustrated Guide | A well-researched 

self-help resource published by the World 

Health Organisation (WHO). Helps people 

understand how stress affects their mental 

and general health, and equips them with 

practical techniques to cope with stress. 

Download a free PDF document & audio 

exercises. Google the title or go to: bit.ly/ 

WHOStressManagement 

– Eckhart Tolle 

– Marcus Aurelius 

Facebook | In recognition of the 

repercussions of too many stresses on 

mental health, Facebook has partnered 

with experts from around the world to find 

information and support. On FB, search for 

‘Emotional Health’ to get to the portal | 

www.facebook.com/emotional_health 

Masiviwe | A movement that aims 

to improve mental health and increase 

access to mental health care. Includes free 

screening tools & a directory of psychosocial 

support services | hello@masiviwe.org.za 

| www.masiviwe.org.za | f MasiviweZA 

Mental Health Information Centre of 

Southern Africa | An information, 

referral and education service. Resourcerich 

website | Contact via the website 

| www.mentalhealthsa.co.za | f 

mentalhealthsa 

OpenCounselling | A free US-based 

directory, includes a database of low-cost 

mental health care counsellors/services 

in SA. Search by city/postal code. Or scroll 

to the bottom of the site and select ‘South 

Africa’ to be taken to a page with links and 

free hotlines for: National suicide crisis lines 

| Alcohol & substance abuse | Domestic 

& sexual violence | Eating disorders 

| Gay & lesbians + | Other disorders 

| Sexual health/pregnancy | Youth & 

Parenting. Information-rich site | www. 

opencounselling.com 

PsychCentral | Information & a free 

newsletter about all aspects of mental health 

and well-being | www.psychcentral.com 

World Health Organisation | A wealth 

of free resources, publications, free apps 

and information under ‘Health Topics’ 

organised alphabetically under ‘Fact sheets’. 

Includes an overview of each condition, 

assessment, symptoms, causes, care, 

treatment guidelines & human rights info. 



MIGRANTS & REFUGEES 

– Antonio Guterres 

t 

DEFINITIONS 

• Refugee | A person who fled their 

country because their life, safety or 

freedom was threatened by war, political 

violence, natural disaster or events that 

seriously disturb the public order; who 

has crossed national boundaries and who 

has been granted asylum and therefore 

legally resides in the new country. 

Refugees are entitled to the same 

basic rights as South African citizens: 

employment, health services, education, 

social grants, etc. 

• Asylum seeker | A person who has left 

their home country as a refugee and is 

seeking asylum in another country. 

• Asylum | Shelter/protection from danger 

• Migrant | A person who moves from 

one place to another, especially to find 

work or better living conditions. There are 

legal and illegal immigrants. 

• Legal immigrant | Any person who is 

not a citizen of South Africa, who resides 

in the country under legally recognised 

and lawfully recorded processes. 

• Illegal or undocumented migrant 

| These are people who have either 

illegally entered South Africa or have 

overstayed their permission to be here. 

Want to know what life is like 

for a refugee in SA? 

Watch this short movie ... and 

imagine yourself in their shoes. 

You 

Tube 

In Another Prison 

- Migrants in Johannesburg 

Download this thought-provoking poetry 

book at https://southafrica.iom.int/ 

Free Download ‘Must-Read’ 

Asylum at a Price 

How corruption impacts those seeking 

legal protection in South Africa. 

PROJECT LOKISA 

www.corruptionwatch.org.za 

EDUCATION & PSYCHOSOCIAL 

SUPPORT FOR REFUGEE 

CHILDREN & YOUTH 

Also see STUDY OPTIONS, CAREER GUIDANCE 

& FUNDING SOURCES in the EDUCATION: 

RESOURCES FOR LIFELONG LEARNING pages 

326 Project | Bridging education for 

refugee and migrant children in JHB, helping 

prepare them to transition into mainstream 

schools. Subscribe to their newsletter. 

• Sacred Heart College, 15 Eckstein St, 

Observatory, Johannesburg | 011 487- 

9000 | office.shc@three2six.co.za 

• Observatory Girls’ Primary School, 22 De 

La Rey St, Observatory, Johannesburg | 

011 487-1100/1 | office.obs@three2six. 

co.za 

• Holy Family College, 40 Oxford Rd, 

Parktown, Johannesburg | 011 486- 

1104 | office.hfc@three2six.co.za 

communication@three2six.co.za | www. 

three2six.co.za | f Three2SixProject 

Refugee Children’s Project (RCP) | 

Facilitates the integration of unaccompanied 

refugee minors, as well as refugee children 

and their families, into local communities. 

Projects include: an Early Childhood 

Development Centre, children and youth 

development programmes, facilitating 

access to education, academic support, 

skills development and entrepreneurial 

training for teen girls and women, food 

parcels, advocacy for the rights of refugee 

children | 11 Natal St, Bellevue/Yeoville, 

Johannesburg | 011 333 9266 | rcp@ 

rcp-africa.org | www.rcp-africa.org 

Search for and download A Guide for 

working with Vulnerable Children at 

Lawyers for Human Rights: www.lhr.org.za 

United Nations High Commission for 

Refugees (UNHCR) | Info-rich website. 

Click on ‘DO YOU NEED HELP?’ at the top 

of the home-page then select South Africa. 

In the menu on the left, select Education 

for info on how the education system 

works, how to enroll your child in school, 

what to do if you cannot afford the school 

fees, where to get technical, vocational and 

higher education, where to find bursaries 

and scholarships, etc | www.unhcr.org | 

f UNHCR 

Unity for Tertiary Refugee Students 

(UTRS) | Promotes the rights of refugees 

and asylum seekers at tertiary education 

level. Provides financial & other support to 



MIGRANTS & REFUGEES 

make tertiary education accessible to such 

students | 078 608 2518 / 083 345 7949 

| bidandif@gmail.com / gsutrs@gmail.com 

| www.utrsafrica.co.za 

GBV & HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

Also see: 

• SAFE PLACES, ASSISTANCE & MORE under 

SEXUAL & OTHER ABUSE OF CHILDREN in the 


• GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, as well as RAPE 

in the CRISIS SUPPORT pages 

• DOMESTIC ABUSE, INCEST & GENDER- 

BASED VIOLENCE, as well as EMERGENCY & 

TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS in the GENDER & 

VIOLENCE ISSUES pages 

• FAMILY WELL-BEING, RELATIONSHIP & 

MARRIAGE COUNSELLING in the WOMEN & 

FAMILY pages 

Human Trafficking Hotline | 

0800 222 777 

National Human Trafficking Helpline | 

Free & confidential 24/7 | 0800 222 777 

Salvation Army | Anti-Human Trafficking 

toll-free line 0800 073 728 

#EndTrafficking 


For assistance with accommodation, also 

see LAND, HOUSING & ESSENTIAL SERVICES 


Department of Home Affairs (DHA) 

| Assists immigrants with legal status, 

marriage, birth & death registration in 

SA. Useful information about the refugee 

application process and about what the 

law says about Refugees & Asylum seekers. 

Download the Refugees ACT | www. 

dha.gov.za > Immigration > Refugee 

Status & Asylum | Questions? Contact 

a provincial office between 8 – 15.30, Mon 

– Fri. See “Office Contacts” in the menu on 

the left of the home page for provincial 

office numbers. Or contact the DHA Head 

Quarters in Tshwane/Pretoria | 012 406 

2500 / Contact Centre 0800 601 190 | 

hacc@dha.gov.za or submit a question via 

the website | www.dha.gov.za | f 

Department of Home Affairs 

Online extension service | Allows a 

holder of an asylum seeker visa (section 22) 

or a refugee status permit (section 24), to 

request an extension of validity via email 

to the Refugee Reception Centre where 

the last extension was made. See email 

addresses below. Include only your permit 

number in the subject line. In the case 

of families, each member must submit a 

request for an extension individually and 

each application must be sent in a separate 

e-mail message, even if they are sent from 

the same email address. DO NOT SEND 

REPEAT EMAILS. 

DHA Refugee Reception Centres | 

Immigrants wishing to apply for asylum may 

do so only at a Refugee Reception Office. 

• Cape Town Refugee Reception Centre 

| Custom House, Old Government Bldg, 

Cnr Heerengracht & Adderley Sts | 

021 421 9173 / 9200 | Refugee visa 

extensions: CTrrc.extension24@dha.gov. 

za / Asylum seeker visa extension: CTrrc. 

Extension22@dha.gov.za | Physical 

offices closed until further notice 

• Desmond Tutu Refugee Reception 

Centre | Pretoria, Gauteng | 012 395 

4174/4000 / 066 473 0631 | Refugee 

visa extensions: DTRRC.Extension24@ 

dha.gov.za / Asylum seeker visa extension: 

DTRRC.Extension22@dha.gov.za 

• Durban Refugee Centre | 137 Che 

Guevara Rd, Glenwood, Durban, KwaZulu- 

Natal | 031 362 1201 | Refugee visa 

extensions: DurbanRRC.Extension24@ 


DurbanRRC.Extension22@dha.gov.za | 

Physical offices closed until further notice 

• Gqeberha Refugee Reception Centre 

| 2 Neil Boss Rd, Korsten, Gqeberha/ 

PE, Eastern Cape | 041 404 8304/ 

05/ 11 / 074 643 3755 | Refugee visa 

extensions: PERRC.Extension24@dha.gov. 

za / Asylum seeker visa extension: PERRC. 

Extension22@dha.gov.za | May not be 

fully operational 

• Musina Refugee Reception Centre | 8 

Harold Grenfell St, Musina, Limpopo | 

015 534 5300 / 083 852 0104 | Refugee 

visa extensions: MusinaRRC.Extension24@ 


Musinarrc.Extension22@dha.gov.za 

NOTES: 

1. To facilitate translation services, the 

Refugee Centres are open to different 

nationalities/languages on different 

days. Call or Google to establish which 

languages are served on which days. 

n 

n 

n 

n 

Did You Know? 

Unaccompanied minors may 

not be deported – regardless of 

their status – but must report 

directly to a Department of 

Social Development office to 

receive protection under the 

Child Protection Act. 

Child refugees have the same 

rights as South African children 

and are entitled to assistance 

from the government. This 

includes the right to education, 

shelter, healthcare services and 

social grants. 

Adults: in case of detention, 

imprisonment or deportation, 

even if you are an illegal 

immigrant without legal papers, 

you have the right to: 

• An interpreter if you do 

not understand any of the 

languages spoken. 

• Contact and seek assistance 

from the consular authorities of 

your own country. 

• Get in touch with a family 

member and a lawyer. 

• Free legal assistance if you 

cannot afford it. 

• Remain silent at the time of 

detention. 

• Receive medical treatment in 

the case of an emergency or 

serious illness. 

• Have children in your care 

remain with you. In fact: you 

may not be separated from 

them. 

In the case of minor criminal 

offences, you have the right to: 

• Not to be detained in the same 

cell as criminals. 

• Dignified and respectful 

treatment by the police and 

other authorities. 

• Refuse to pay bribes or provide 

sexual favours. It is a crime if 

any official demands this. 

• Due process before the 

law, before deportation or 

imprisonment. 





Millions of senior citizens in townships are living in abject poverty and regularly experience isolation, abuse and 

neglect. This is exacerbated by weakened family ties, financial insecurity, limited mobility, and a lack of access to 

quality healthcare. Dire living conditions are the norm for many older persons who live in neighbourhoods rife 

with crime and with limited access to basic services such as water, electricity and emergency services. Many are 

also unaware of their rights and lack the resources or information to seek help when they need it. Despite this, 

many older persons still support large families on their meagre pensions and are often the sole breadwinner in 

the household. For an older person who is bedridden and alone, accessing help can be nearly impossible. 

– Ikamva Labantu 

t 

DEFINITIONS 

WHO IS OLD? 

AGEISM 

is 

just as 

harmful 

as 

sexism 

or 

racism 

Under the Older Person’s Act, a male is 

defined as old at 65+ and a female at 

60+. What you do with those years is 

up to you, though. 

WHAT IS ELDER ABUSE? 

– Older Person’s Act 13/2006 

Economic abuse | Improper or 

unauthorized use or control of an older 

person’s old-age pension, bank account, 

retirement funds, savings, property 

or other resources for the benefit of 

someone else. Selling the property – 

house, furniture or any other goods – that 

belong to an older person without their 

consent. 

Exploitation | Employing a vulnerable 

older person to perform services for 

the benefit of another, such as taking 

care of children, without a salary or 

compensation. 

Physical abuse | Any intentional 

act, assault, bodily harm or injury, e.g., 

pushing, slapping, striking, biting, choking, 

punching, stabbing, etc. – with or without 

an object. 

Psychological/emotional abuse | 

Intentional and repeated action or 

inaction that threatens, humiliates, insults, 

ridicules, degrades, harasses, coerces, 

intimidates, isolates, unreasonably 

confines, emotionally distresses, punishes 

or causes emotional pain to an older 

person or invades the older person’s 

privacy, liberty, integrity or security. 

Neglect or abandonment | Denying 

access to or failing to provide proper 

food, shelter, medical treatment or 

hygiene, or acting in a way that disregards 

the vulnerable elder’s health, welfare or 

safety. 

Sexual abuse | Any conduct that 

violates the sexual integrity of an 

older person, including assault, rape, 

penetration with an object, flashing 

of genital organs, compelling an 

older person to watch a sexual act – 

electronically or otherwise – or using 

sexual slurs against an older person. Any 

sexual contact with a person who doesn’t 

have the capacity or ability – mentally or 

physically – to consent. 

If any of the above is happening to you, 

know that it is your right to ask for help 

and protection. See HELPLINES below. 

Any form of elder abuse is a criminal 

offence in South Africa. 

If you know or suspect that an older 

person has been abused or suffers from 

an abuse-related injury – in their home 

or an institution – you MUST report 

it without delay to the Department of 

Social Development and the police. 

Failure to report the abuse of an older 

person is a crime punishable by law. 

Signs of abuse may be physical, such 

as bruises or wounds, bed sores, lice, 

illness and lack of medical care, weight 

loss because of lack of nutrition or 

hydration, or behavioural changes, such 

as withdrawal, fear and anxiety. 

Also: take seriously attempts from the 

elder to communicate what’s going on. 

If the person is neglecting themselves 

or shows signs of depression, grief or 

dementia, it may be time to look for 

outside assistance or find alternative 

accommodation in a place where the 

elder can be cared for. 




KNOW YOUR RIGHTS 

Download the above publication, free of 

charge, from The South African Human 

Rights Commission web page, and learn 

about your human rights | www. 

sahrc.org.za > Publications > Pamphlets 

> Human Rights and Older Persons 

HELPLINES 

CALL CHARGES 






WHERE TO REPORT ELDER ABUSE 

Age-in-Action | Careline: 0800 204 190 

Or call the number for your province. See 

Age-in-Action under SOCIAL SERVICES & 

ACCOMMODATION elsewhere in this section) 

Department of Social Development | 

Contact the nearest Social Development 

Office | Or call the Helpline: 012 312 

7727 | Or write to customercare@dsd. 

gov.za 


who did what, to whom, when, where, why 

and how, to any of the following | 


• USSD string *134*10111 # 



Call any of the following for information, 

guidance, legal and other assistance: 


| Anonymous and confidential telephonic 








Lifeline | 0861 32 23 22 


| Lodge a complaint about individual or 

institutional violations of the rights of older 

persons via the website | www.sahrc.org. 

za > Lodge A Complaint | Or download 

the complaint form in any official language, 

complete it in your own time, and email it 

to complaints@sahrc.org.za | Or call 011 

877 3600 / WhatsApp 082 059 6520 | 

Or find a provincial office number on the 

website: www.sahrc.org.za 

South African Social Security Agency 

(SASSA) | Report financial irregularities 

(e.g. unauthorised deductions) | 0800 

601 011 | GrantEnquiries@sassa.gov.za 

Also notify a community social worker, 

health care worker and/or a traditional 

leader and ask for immediate assistance 

and medical attention, as needed. Keep 

a written record of your actions and 

reports. You may need this later, should 

the case go to court. 

LEGAL ASSISTANCE 

See the HUMAN RIGHTS pages 


– Anonymous 

FOOD, HEALTH & PSYCHOSOCIAL 

SUPPORT PROGRAMMES 


• HUNGER RELIEF in the FOOD, HUNGER & 

NUTRITION pages 

• The SOCIAL WELFARE & HUMANITARIAN 

SUPPORT pages 


Badisa | Service centres providing 

meals, transport, home-based care, medical 

support and socialisation to enable older 

persons to live independently in the 

Eastern, Northern and Western Cape. Call 

for information about facilities near you 

| Head office: 021 957 7130 | info@ 

badisa.org.za | www.badisa.org.za | f 

BadisaCharity 

Meals on Wheels Community Services 

SA | Serves more than 30 million meals 

in towns, cities, rural areas and squatter 

settlements every year. Contact for a service 

point closest to you | 086 00 00 700 | 

adminc@mealsonwheels.org.za | www. 

mow.org.za | f mowcsa 

EASTERN CAPE 


MULTIPLE PROVINCES elsewhere in this section 

FREE STATE 



GAUTENG 

Amcare | A multi-purpose health and 

social development organisation servicing 

poor and vulnerable persons in the 

Greater Alberton area of Ekurhuleni | 15 

Heidelberg Rd, Newmarket Park, Alberton 

| 011 869 5856 | socialworkservices@ 

amcare.org.za | www.amcare.org.za | 

f AmcareAlberton 

NG Welfare | The Dutch Reformed 

Church’s registered welfare arm in the Vaal 

and West-Rand areas of Gauteng. Call to 

find out what services are available near 

you | Head Office: 104 Peter Mokaba Ave, 

Potchefstroom | 018 297 3928 | info@ 

ngwelsyn.co.za | www.ngwelfare.co.za | 

f ngwelsyn 

KWAZULU-NATAL 

Muthande Society for the Aged (MUSA) 

| Runs programmes that alleviate poverty, 

reduce social isolation, assist in acquiring 

skills, help the frail, ill and HIV/AIDS affected, 

train family members and care givers 

on health and social issues, and provide 

paralegal services to enable senior citizens 

to live as independent members of society 

| 10 Langa Place, Lamontville, Durban | 

031 942 9715 / WhatsApp 083 784 9225 | 

info@muthande.org.za | www.muthande. 

org.za | f muthande 

LIMPOPO 





grandmothers 

holding families together all over South Africa 

Grandmothers in historically 

disadvantaged South Africa have 

always played a big role in the 

upbringing of their grandchildren. 

This tradition is not a cultural 

one, but one fashioned by the 

demands of apartheid. Black 

people were not allowed to be 

in ‘white’ areas unless they had 

a work permit to be there. They 

were certainly not allowed to 

bring their families with them. 

Husbands and wives worked far 

apart from each other and from 

their rural homes where they 

were forced to leave their children 

in the care of a grandmother 

or auntie. The trend continues, 

because the majority of black 

mothers simply don’t earn 

enough to bring their families 

with them to the towns and the 

cities where the jobs are. Besides, 

the places which they can afford 

as accommodation are often 

unsafe, or simply don’t have 

enough space to accommodate 

a family – like the ‘maid’s rooms’ 

in previously white back yards 

everywhere in our country. So, the 

children are still left with gogo. 

There is another reason, 

nowadays, why millions of 

grandmothers are bringing up 

their grandchildren: they are 

either nursing their own children 

who are dying of AIDS or they 

have buried them.


Photo | Tshikululu Social Investments | www.tshikululu.org.za | Courtesy of the First Rand Foundation 

All over South Africa, these 

grandmothers are holding families 

together despite their grief – 

often taking care of as many as 

ten children on a meagre state 

pension and, if she’s lucky, some 

piece jobs. 

At a time when she really should 

be able to rest, her life is filled 

with toil and suffering ... and 

desperate poverty that she knows 

will have dire consequences for 

her grandchildren. 

Here's what YOU can do to make a difference 

• Stop justifying paying the minimum 

wage to the women who clean 

your house and support your life. 

They are someone’s mother, auntie, 

grandmother ... and the quality of their 

lives is at your mercy. 

• Start a support group at your church, 

school or community center for the 

women who take care of children in 

their communities. Find out what they 

need and start helping them practically 

and materially. 

• Give them access to information. 

Make sure they know how to apply for 

available social grants ... How to protect 

themselves from getting HIV infected 

when caring for an AIDS patient ... How 

to grow vegetables to feed their family 

... How to draw up a will to make sure 

that their grandchildren will inherit 

what is rightfully theirs ... How to 

protect their human rights and what to 

do if they are being abused ... How to 

cope with the changing needs of their 

growing grandchildren – including the 

need for sex-education ... How to cope 

with pain and loss ... And any other 

subjects they want to know about. n

Poverty affects all of us. 

It attacks the very fabric of our society. 

It erodes self-respect and personal dignity. 

It perpetuates the false belief that 

human worth is linked to money, looks, 

possessions and status. 

It divides families and wrecks social 

cohesion. 

It is at the root of most violence. 

It undermines our safety and destroys our 

stability. 

It ensures that the majority of our people 

remain unemployable – unable to pay for 

their own and their children’s education. 

It cripples our workforce, reducing our 

collective productivity. 

It discourages foreign investment. 

It destabilises the very foundations of 

business: the expansion of a robust 

consumer base. 

Photo | Jan Tutter / flickr 

l 

We will all benefit if each of us does what is 

within our power, in our circle of influence, 

to help fellow citizens achieve their full 

potential. 

Everything is connected. 

Everything affects everything else.


SOCIAL WELFARE & HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT 


t 

If you are in need of food, shelter or any 

kind of assistance to keep your head 

above water, please contact one or all of 

the following: 

• Your local municipality. 

• A social worker at a community centre 

or clinic. 

• The people at a church near you. 

• A traditional leader. 

• The GOVERNMENT BODIES listed below 

Also, look through the entire directory 

for the contact details of organisations 

that are designed to help in particular 

situations, such as hunger, domestic 

violence, addictions, etc. 

Your life is important. Don’t give up 

hope. Help is available. 


For assistance with accommodation, also 

see LAND, HOUSING & ESSENTIAL SERVICES 


Department of Human Settlements (DHS) 

(National) | Makes it possible for all South 

Africans to access adequate housing – a 

right enshrined in the Constitution of our 

country | 012 444 9000 / 0800 146 873 

| info@dhs.gov.za | www.dhs.gov.za 

| Provincial Departments | Each of the 

following sites offer varying degrees of useful 

resources & information | 

Eastern Cape | 043 711 9901/2/3 | 

www.ecdhs.gov.za 

Free State | 051 403 3379/92 | www. 

humansettlements.fs.gov.za 

Gauteng | 011 355 4000 | www. 

gauteng.gov.za/Departments 

KwaZulu-Natal | 031 336 5300 / 033 392 

6400 | www.kzndhs.gov.za 

Limpopo | Cooperative Governance, 

Human Settlements & Traditional Affairs | 

015 284 5000 | www.coghsta.limpopo.gov.za 

Mpumalanga | 013 766 6088 | dhs. 

mpg.gov.za 

North West | 018 388 5176 | www.nwpg. 

gov.za/HumanSettlements/site/index.html 

Northern Cape | Co-operative 

Governance, Human Settlement and 

Traditional Affairs | 053 830 9400 / 22 | 

www.coghsta.ncpg.gov.za 

Western Cape | 021 483 6488 / 3112 / 

0623 / 0611 | www.westerncape.gov.za/ 

dept/human-settlements 

Department of Social Development 

| Responsible for providing social 

development, protection and welfare 

services to the public | customercare@ 

dsd.gov.za | www.dsd.gov.za | f 


• National Care Helpline | 012 312 7727 

Provincial Departments | Provincial 

websites offer varying levels of useful info. 

• Eastern Cape | 043 605 5419 / 043 605 

5000 | www.ecdsd.gov.za | f Eastern 

Cape Department of Social Development 

• Free State | 066 487 6238 / 051 400 0302 

/4/7 | www.socdev.fs.gov.za | f Free 

State Department of Social Development 

• Gauteng | 011 355 7600/56 / 7687 / 

7878 / 011 227 0000 | www.gauteng. 

gov.za/departments > Department of 

Social Development | f Gauteng 


• KwaZulu-Natal | 033 264 5400 / 3001/2/4 

| www.kzndsd.gov.za | f KwaZulu- 

Natal Department of Social Development 

• Limpopo | 015 230 4300 / 015 293 

6004 / 6053/4 | www.dsd.limpopo. 

gov.za | f Department of Social 

Development Limpopo - DSD 

• Mpumalanga 013 766 3031 / 3098 / 

3111 / 3156 / 3253 | www.dsdmpu. 

gov.za | f Mpumalanga Department of 

Social Development 

• North West | 018 388 2000 / 388 3040 

/ 018 387 3434 / 0255 | dsd.nwpg.gov. 

za | f North West Department of Social 

Development 

• Northern Cape | 053 807 5600 / 053 

874 9100 | www.northern-cape.gov.za / 

socdev.ncpg.gov.za | f Northern Cape 


• Western Cape | 0800 220 250 / 

021 483 5045 / 3858 / 3765 / 3158 

/ 5445 | www.westerncape.gov. 

za/dept/social-development | f 

WesternCapeGovernment 

National Development Agency (NDA) | 

Support & provides funds to strengthen 

civil society organisations that implement 

development projects and provide services 

to poor communities | 26 Wellington Rd, 

Parktown, Johannesburg | National office: 

011 018 5500 / Cape Town: 021 422 5175 

| info@nda.org.za | www.nda.org.za 

South African Social Security Agency 

(SASSA) | Distributes social grants on 

behalf of the Dept. of Social Development 

to South Africans who need them the most. 

See: SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL SECURITY 

AGENCY (SASSA) CONTACT INFO elsewhere 

in this section | www.sassa.gov.za 

Thusong Service Centres | One-stop 

centres where you can get information & 

government services, such as assistance 

with a grant, pension, unemployment and 

ID documents. For provincial contact details, 

see: ASSISTANCE WITH & INFORMATION 

ABOUT SOCIAL GRANTS elsewhere in this 

section | www.gov.za/about-government/ 

contact-directory/thusong 

SOCIAL GRANT INFORMATION 

Social security is a human right. It is what 

supports us when something happens and 

we can’t support ourselves, like when we 

are children, get hurt or sick, lose a job or 

grow old. 

To improve the standard of living in our 

country, social grants are available to all 

South Africans, permanent residents and 

refugees who reside inside our borders. 

Multiple grants are not allowed. Grant 

amounts are increased in April every year. 

A GUIDE TO SA GRANTS 

Black Sash | On their site you’ll find an 

overview of the various social grants that 

are available, who is eligible, the value of 

each grant, the means test threshold, as 

well as answers to common questions and 

problems that people experience | www. 

blacksash.org.za 

• Under Your Rights, read or download info 

about each particular social grant. 

• Under Media & Publications: read, print 

or download a comprehensive, free guide 

to South Africa’s social grant system, 

titled: Social Assistance: A reference guide 

for paralegals. The guide is an invaluable 

resource for professionals and lay people. 

It provides information on the different 




– David Sheff, Author of ‘Clean’ 

t 

HELPLINES 

• Alcoholics Anonymous | 0861 43 57 

22 | Chat online: www.aachats.org 

• Lifeline | 0861 32 23 22 

• Narcotics Anonymous | 0861 00 69 62 

• SADAG | 

• Substance Abuse Helpline | 0800 12 

13 14 (24 hours) 

• 24 hr Mental Health Helpline | 0800 

456 789 / 0800 21 22 23 (8am–8pm) 

• Suicide Crisis line | 0800 567 567 

• SMS ‘help’ to 31393 (they’ll call u back) 

• WhatsApp chat: 9 am-4 pm, Sun-Mon 

076 882 2775 

• Office: 011 234 4837 / 011 262 6396 


to any of the following | 


• USSD string *134*10111 # 



• Substance Abuse Helpline | 0800 12 

13 14 or SMS 32312 

You 

Tube 

How 

A short movie for 

parents & teens 

Addiction Happens 

Our oldest son died of an accidental 

heroin/fentanyl overdose on his 

22nd birthday, in December 2015. 

Our family produced this video to 

help teens and their families 

avoid the painful path of addiction. 

Understand how addiction starts 

and how to prevent it. 

ALCOHOL ADDICTION 

Alcoholics Anonymous SA | A free, 

nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, 

apolitical fellowship of men and women 

who have or had a drinking problem. 

Membership is open to anyone who wants 

to do something about their drinking 

problem. Physical or online meetings 

throughout South Africa. Details on website. 

Register to access their online resource 

library | National helpline: 0861 43 57 

22 / 0861 HELP AA | Chat online: www. 

aachats.org | Or send a message via the 

website | www.aasouthafrica.org.za 

Eastern Cape | 

• East London | 58 Himalaya Rd, Braelyn 

| 082 787 6973 | jumbopadayachee@ 

yahoo.com 

• Gqeberha/PE & Garden Route | St. 

Martin de Porres Catholic Church, Kobus 

Rd, Gelvindale | 041 452 7328 | pe@ 

aasouthafrica.org.za 

Gauteng | 

• Alberton | 28 Hennie Alberts St, 

Brackenhurst | 011 867 5950 | gso@ 

aasouthafrica.org.za 

• Benoni | East Rand Benoni Central 

Methodist Church, 26 Bunyan St | 011 

421 1748 | aaeastrand@gmail.com 

• Johannesburg | Wedge Gardens, 2 

Whitney Rd, Whitney Gardens, Lyndhurst 

| 065 932 5270 | jwra@aasouthafrica. 

org.za 

• Tshwane/Pretoria | NG Kerk Oosterlig, 

Cnr Hugo & Lea St, Waterkloof Glen | 

012 993 5827 | npaa@aasouthafrica. 

org.za 

• Vereeniging & Vaal Area | Three Rivers 

| 081 795 6577 | aavaaltriangle@ 

gmail.com 

KwaZulu-Natal | 

• Durban | 107 Doone House, 379 Anton 

Lembede St | 031 301 4959 / 301 9830 

| kzn@aasouthafrica.org.za 

Western Cape | 

• Cape Town | Boland Bank Bldg, 18 

Lower Burg St | 021 418 0908 | 

westerncape@aasouthafrica.org.za 

Alcoholics Anonymous Apps | There 

are a number of FREE AA apps available, 

including: 

• 12 Step Toolkit AA | Daily steps to 

keep you from relapsing into active 

alcoholism 

• Meeting Guide | Search for meetings 

near you. 

• AA Big Book | Chat with others in 

recovery, listen to podcasts +. Also 

available as an audio book on a separate, 

free app: AA Big Book Audio 

Online Intergroup AA | Online help 

with drinking problems, as well as AA 

recovery meetings worldwide. Browse the 

directory to find what suits your needs: 

video, telephone, email or chat – available 

in a variety of languages. Or list your own 

meeting. Membership is free for those 

seeking help as well as those offering help 

| www.aa-intergroup.org 

This Naked Mind | A resource-rich, 

science-based website. Freebies include a 

web-class, newsletter, podcasts + | www. 

thisnakedmind.com | f thisnakedmind 

TEDtalks | How I overcame alcoholism, 

Claudia Christian 

YouTube | Search for ‘Alcohol Addiction’ for 

hundreds of informative videos 

Responsible Consumption 

The Association of Alcohol 

Responsibility and Education | 

Partners with public and commercial 

concerns to promote moderation and 

encourage responsible marketing 

of alcohol through education and 

awareness campaigns that address 

the harmful consumption of alcohol 

in these areas: 

• Underage drinking 

• Binge drinking 

• Drinking and driving 

• Drinking and walking 

• Drinking while pregnant (Causing 

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) 

• Responsible trade facilitation 

Resource-rich website | Atholl 

Towers, 129 Patricia Rd, Sandown | 

010 110 7160 | info@aware.org.za 

You 

Tube 

| www.aware.org.za | Aware ZA 




FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME 

The damage caused to the developing 

fetus by alcohol exposure during 

pregnancy is permanent and 

irreversible. It is called Fetal Alcohol 

Syndrome (FAS) and it is the most 

common and completely preventable 

cause of mental and physical disability 

in the world. See the article Damaged in 

the Womb, following this section. 

FASfacts | Programmes and campaigns 

to decrease and prevent the prevalence 

of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal 

Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) | 1 

Baring St, Worcester, Western Cape | 

023 342 7000 | info@FASfacts.org.za | 

www.FASfacts.org.za 

Foundation for Alcohol Related Research 

(FARR) | Education, prevention and 

intervention projects to reduce birth 

defects caused by alcohol consumption 

during pregnancy across South Africa. 

Diagnosis and support for children affected 

by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders 

(FASD), and their families | Amber 

Place, 42 Bloemhof St, Bellville, Cape 

Town | 021 686 2645/6/7 | info@ 

farrsa.org.za | www.farrsa.org.za | f 

FoundationForAlcoholRelatedResearch 

YouTube | Search for ‘Fetal Alcohol 

Syndrome’ for hundreds of informative videos 

– Drew Barrymore 

SUPPORT FOR THOSE AFFECTED 

Al-Anon | Support for people who have 

been affected by someone else’s alcoholism. 

Special support for children of alcoholics 

(Alateen), as well as for adult children of 

alcoholics. Site contains helpful information, 

resources for professionals, and contact 

details for physical or electronic meetings 

in different parts of South Africa | 24 hr 

Helpline 0861 252 666 | alanongso@ 

iafrica.com | www.alanon.org.za 

YouTube | Addiction: Loving an Addict, 

Healing the Pain | The dos and don’ts 

of helping a drug addict recover / Maia 

Szalavitz | Wasted: Exposing the Family 

Effect of Addiction 

BOOKS 

Clean | A myth-shattering look at drug 

abuse and addiction treatment, based 

on cutting-edge research, by David Sheff, 

author of Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey 

Through His Son’s Addiction 

High | The book that David Sheff and his 

son, Nic, wrote after Nic got clean. 

VIDEOS, ETC. 

TEDtalks | Addiction and Recovery: 

A How to Guide, Shawn Kingsbury | 

Addiction – don’t let the bear catch you, 

Steve Gill | The human element of 

recovery from mental illness and addiction, 

Apryl Pooley | Unlocking the Cure to 

Substance Use Disorder, Brad Finegood 

YouTube | 8 Essentials for Recovery 

from Addiction | Addiction Policy 

Forum | A ReThink of the Way we 

Drink | bignoknow - Noah Thomas | 

Brené Brown on Empathy | Center for 

Motivation & Change | Drug Addiction 

and the Brain | Finding God Through 

Addiction & Astrophysics: The New 

Universe & the Human Future w/ Nancy 

Abrams | Johann Hari: Everything you 

think you know about addiction is wrong | 

Finding sobriety on a mountaintop | Fit 

Recovery | How Addiction Affects The 

Brain | In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts 

/ Dr. Gabor Maté | Jordan Peterson & 

Russell Brand: How to Beat Addiction | 

Jordan Peterson - How to treat addiction 

effectively | Six Steps to Life-Altering 

Change for Addicts and Convicts | Talk 

Sober | The #1 Reason You Cannot Beat 

Your Addiction | The Best Explanation of 

Addiction I’ve Ever Heard – Dr. Gabor Maté 

| Vaping, Marijuana, and the Effects on 

the Adolescent Brain with Dr. Ruth Potee | 

Vaping: The Hit Your Brain Takes 

COCAINE ADDICTION 

Cocaine Anonymous South Africa | 

A fellowship of people who share their 

experiences to solve their common problem 

and help others recover from their addiction 

| Helpline: 063 268 8794 | help@ca.org. 

za | www.ca.org.za | f CASouthAfrica 

GAMBLING ADDICTION 

cghub | An information page about 

compulsive online and other gambling | 

www.cghub.co.za 

Gamblers Anonymous | Info-rich 

website. Physical & online meetings | 

Volunteer helplines: 

• Gauteng | 060 624 7140 / 081 874 1249 

• KZN helpline | 031 207 4075 

• Western Cape | 079 368 4477 

Call only at reasonable hours. If not 

answered, call again as they do not return 

calls | Contact via the website | www. 

gasouthafrica.wordpress.com 

South African Responsible Gambling 

Foundation | Free out- and inpatient 

treatment programmes, telephone or 

face-to-face counselling by qualified 

professionals countrywide, available 

24/7 for problem gamblers & their 

families. Resource-rich website with quiz 

to determine if you have a problem | 

Sunnyside Office Park, 32 Sunnyside Dr & 

Carse O’Gowrie Rd, JHB | 24/7 helpline: 080 

000 6008 / 011 026 7323 / WhatsApp 076 

675 0710 | Helpline@responsiblegambling. 

org.za | www.responsiblegambling.org.za | 

f sargf.org.za 



WOMEN & FAMILY 

t 

The traditional definition of a family 

is a group consisting of two parents (a 

mother and a father) and their children 

living together as a unit. Another 

definition of a family is a group of 

two or more persons related by birth, 

marriage or adoption who live together. 

In reality, families exist in many forms. 

Sometimes they live together, sometimes 

not. Sometimes there are children and 

sometimes not. Sometimes they are 

related, sometimes not. There are singleparent 

families, cohabiting couples, 

gay couples (with two fathers or two 

mothers), child-headed families, as well 

as extended and combined families. 

If you need help with a crisis pregnancy or know 

someone who needs help, go to 

www.crisispregnancy.org.za 

and search the database for service 

providers in your province 

– Lyndon Johnson 

crisis pregnancy & adoption services for 

every province, plus a host of resources 

about options, adoption, who to talk to, 

etc. | www.crisispregnancy.org.za 

Life SA | A platform where you can 

quickly, anonymously if you wish, get help. 

Talk to us | 061 804 0460 | m.me/ 

lifesahelpdesk | f lifesahelpdesk 

Pregnancy Help Network | A network 

of pregnancy help organisations across 

South Africa. Look on the website or call/ 

WhatsApp for information about help 

near you | 073 162 2334 | office@ 

pregnancyhelpnetwork.org.za | www. 

pregnancyhelpnetwork.org.za | f 

Pregnancy Help Network 

Women, as the bearers of children, 

are traditionally regarded as the main 

caregivers of children. They can be 

young, single, married or not, or they 

could be a granny. 

But women are not always the 

caregivers of children, either. Many 

fathers take care of children. 

Everyone agrees that the family – in 

all its myriad forms – is the primary 

means of socialising children. It is in 

the family where a child first learns the 

basic values and norms of the culture in 

which they will grow up. 

CRISIS / UNWANTED 

PREGNANCY COUNSELLING 

Also see: 

• ACCREDITED ADOPTION SERVICE PROVIDERS 

In the CHILD WELFARE pages 

• PREGNANCY, CONTRACEPTION & ABORTION 

SERVICES In the HEALTH pages 

And in this WOMEN & FAMILY section, look for: 

• BABY SAVER LOCATIONS 

– Jeanie W. French 

NATIONAL 

BabyLine | A dedicated phone/WhatsApp 

support service for mothers needing 

counselling and support, manned by social 

workers who will connect the mother with 

a network partner in her local area | 082 

069 9067 | www.peaceagency.org 

Baby Savers SA | A national coalition 

of NPOs and PBOs that provide a safe 

alternative to unsafe baby abandonment 

through the use of a baby saver. Also 

offers crisis pregnancy counselling through 

their network | info@babysaverssa. 

co.za | www.babysaverssa.co.za | f 

BabySaversSA 

Crisis Pregnancy | Website contains a 

comprehensive, searchable database of 

Wandisa Specialist Adoption & Child 

Protection Organisation | Counsels 

birth families in crisis; refers for relevant 

support; provides safe relinquishment 

options after birth; ensures protection and 

care of abandoned babies and children | 

Orange House, 63 Caledon St, Somerset 

West | 021 852 8025 / 079 063 4144 | 

info@wandisa.co.za | www.wandisa.com 

| f adoptingthroughwandisa 

EASTERN CAPE 

Heart Matters Pregnancy Care Centre 

| A safe, free and confidential space for 

women who are seeking guidance due 

to an unplanned pregnancy. Pregnancy 

testing, peer counselling, ongoing support 

and counselling, pre- and ante-natal 

classes, assistance with adoption, post 

abortion stress and more | Makhanda 

/ Grahamstown | 083 731 9732 | 

heartmatterspccentre@gmail.com | f 

heartmatterspregancycarecentre 




FREE STATE 

Anchor of Hope / Pregnancy Crisis 

Centre | Information, counselling, 

support, pre and postnatal care, and 

temporary accommodation for pregnant 

women and their babies after birth | 

Bloemfontein and surrounding rural areas 

| 083 325 1899 | info@anchorofhope. 

co.za or contact via the website | www. 

anchorofhope.co.za 

House of Hope | Counselling and 

support for unplanned pregnancies | 

226 Stateway, Bedelia, Welkom | 057 

101 0286 / 081 398 7609 | info@ 

houseofhopefs.co.za | www. 

houseofhopefs.co.za 

Pregnancy Crisis Centre | Information 

& counselling | 9 Huguenot St, Willows, 

Bloemfontein | 082 382 8020 | 

pccofhope@gmail.com | www.pccofhope. 

org.za 

GAUTENG 

Catholic Women’s League Adoption 

Society | Margaret House, 33 Roberts 

Ave, Kensington, Johannesburg | 011 

618 1533 / Crisis service: 011 614 3149 

| admin@cwladoptions.co.za | www. 

cwladoptions.org.za | f cwladoptions1 

CrossRoads PHC | Option counselling 

for women facing an unplanned/crisis 

pregnancy with volunteer counselors at this 

Pro-Life NPO. Also provides loss counselling 

following miscarriage or abortion | 1121 

South St, Hatfield, Tshwane/Pretoria | 076 

324 5565 | contact@crossroadsphc.co.za 

| http://www.crossroadsphc.co.za/ | f 

CrossRoadsPregnancyHelpCentre 

El Roi LIV Lanseria | Counselling and 

support for pregnant mothers | Plot 90 

Pelindaba Rd (R512), Lanseria | 079 558 

9090 | babyhome@live-lanseria.com | 

www.live-lanseria.com | f elroibabyhome 

Hope Ithemba | A pregnancy crisis 

centre offering compassionate assistance, 

education & counselling in crisis/unwanted 

pregnancy situations | Caray House, 4 

Eighth St, Springs | 011 811 6766 / 073 

783 3033 | info@hopeithemba.co.za | 

www.hopeithemba.co.za 

Impact Africa Diepsloot | Prenatal, 

postnatal and parenting counselling and 

training. Adoption services | 835 Ravele 

St, Ext 2, Diepsloot, Johannesburg | 

071 618 2002 | impactbabyrescue@ 

impactafrica.org | www.impactafrica.org 

Nea-Zoia / Crisis Pregnancy Care Centre 

| Counselling and support for women 

in an unplanned pregnancy crisis or who 

are suffering from post-abortion stress. 

Volunteer counsellors | Evander St, 

Rooihuiskraal North X1, Centurion/Midrand 

| 082 412 1472 | info@neazoia.co.za 

KWAZULU-NATAL 

KZN South Coast Hot Spots | 

Counselling & support | 082 353 5556 

/ 071 687 2900 | kznhotspots@gmail. 

com | www.kznhotspots.co.za | f KZN 

South Coast Hot Spots - Turning Point Crisis 

Counselling 

Open Arms | An online crisis pregnancy 

centre. Offers counselling and emotional 

support | 5 Vimy Rd, Bluff, Durban 

| WhatsApp 084 488 1359 | help@ 

openarmssa.org | www.openarmssa.org 

| f openarmssa 

LIMPOPO 

Open Door Pregnancy Help Center | 11 

Erasmus St, Flora Park, Polokwane | 083 

383 7047 | opendoorphc.office@gmail. 

com | f Open Door Pregnancy Help 

Center - Polokwane / Pregnancy care centre 

MPUMALANGA 

Born 2 Care for the Community | A 

Pregnancy Crisis Centre (and more) for 

the greater Delmas community. Free, 

confidential, caring and non-judgemental 

advice and practical support | (Welfare 

Offices), Cnr 4th Ave & 6th St, Delmas | 

073 643 1357 | info@born2care.co.za | 

www.born2care.co.za | f born2care 

Litsemba Centre | (Operated by 

Mamkhulu.org) Free pregnancy tests, 

confidential, professional counselling, & 

support for unplanned or crisis pregnancies. 

Resources for a healthy pregnancy. 

Parenting skills training. Support groups 

for teen moms. A safe space | Daantjie, 

Mbombela | 066 183 0835 / 067 793 

8226 | www.mamkhulu.org 

NORTH WEST 

Touch Community Network | Pregnancy 

and HIV testing, crisis pregnancy support 

and counselling | 143 Bethlehem Dr, 

Rustenburg | 014 592 3363 | contact@ 

neolife.org.za | www.touchnetwork.org.za 

| f neo.birthtouchcommunity 

NORTHERN CAPE 

Badisa | Pregnancy counselling and 

adoption services throughout the NC. Call 

for info about facilities near you | Head 

office: 021 957 7130 | info@badisa.org.za 

| www.badisa.org.za | f BadisaCharity 

Are You Pregnant 

And Need Information 

And Advice? 

Call 0800 864 658 now and talk 

with someone about adoption as 

an option. Or visit www.adoption. 

org.za for more information. 

Jogébed Care Centre | A child, youth 

care and crisis pregnancy centre. Telephonic 

and face-to-face counselling. Support and 

social worker interventions | Upington | 

082 555 8522 / 082 538 0404 | jogebed. 

mw@gmail.com | www.jogebed.co.za | 

f jogebed 



As a concerned onlooker | 

n 

Talk to the women you know 

about contraception. 

n 

Share information with pregnant 

women about the options and 

support that are available. 

n 

Adopt a child. 

As a policy-maker | 

n 

Make sex education – including 

information about contraception 

– a compulsory subject at school. 

n 

Make contraception easily 

available, everywhere. 

n 

Educate health officials not 

to shame young people 

who request assistance with 

contraception, but to help them. 

n 

Educate public health workers 

to support unwed pregnant 

women with information 

that can help them make 

the right decisions for their 

circumstances. 




– Maria Popova 

There is also a ‘mini-pill’ that uses 

only progestin, a synthetic form of the 

progesterone hormone for people who 

have allergic and other reactions to 

estrogen. 

The Patch | Uses a combination of 

estrogen and progestin, but instead 

of taking a daily pill, the user sticks a 

waterproof sticker on their skin. Patches 

come in packs of three. The user puts on 

a new patch each week for three weeks 

and then has a patch-free week during 

which a period typically occurs. 

Birth Control Injections | Contains 

progestin and protects against pregnancy 

for three months. A health care provider 

typically administers it, in an arm or the 

buttocks, every 12 to 14 weeks. 

All hormonal and medical interventions can 

have side effects, like spotting, weight gain, 

mood swings, etc. Discuss the pros and 

cons with a medical practitioner before you 

decide. If the side effects are severe, ask to 

try another option. 

A Guide to Birth Control / Methods of Contraception 

NO PRESCRIPTION NEEDED 

Condoms | Highly effective in 

preventing pregnancy and the ONLY 

contraception that also prevents sexually 

transmitted infections (STIs) including 

HIV/AIDS. Government-issued condoms 

are available free of charge at clinics and 

government buildings. 

Spermicide | A sperm-killing chemical 

that comes in a gel or foam, that the user 

inserts in the vagina before every instance 

of intercourse. Not as effective as other 

options at preventing pregnancy. 

Diaphragm or cervical cap | A small, 

circular dome made of thin, soft silicone 

that’s inserted into the vagina before sex. 

It covers the cervix and suction helps it 

stay in place, so that sperm can’t reach 

an egg. It is highly effective when used 

correctly and with a spermicide, but it 

does not protect against STIs. It must be 

fitted (measured for size) and prescribed 

by your healthcare provider. You will need 

a new measurement if you lose or gain 

weight or after having a baby. 

PRESCRIPTION NEEDED 

The Pill | Hormonal birth control pills 

stop ovulation and can be highly effective 

if taken roughly the same time every 

day. There are hundreds of birth control 

pills on the market. The most common 

ones use a combination of the hormones 

estrogen and progestin. 

The Ring | Different options are 

effective for different periods of time. 

Some must be replaced once a month 

and some once a year. The user inserts 

the ring, leaves it in for about three weeks 

and then removes it for a week. They use 

similar hormones as the pill and the patch 

but are effective for longer periods. 

MEDICAL PROCEDURE REQUIRED 

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) | These 

are considered to be among the most 

effective forms of birth control. You 

don’t need to remember to take, apply, 

remove, reinsert or do anything once it 

has been inserted. And, depending on 

the type, the IUD can remain effective 

for three to 12 years! It is also a highly 

effective emergency contraceptive if 

inserted within 5 days after having had 

unprotected sex. A doctor or medical 

professional must insert the T-shaped 

device into the uterus. The procedure 

takes about five minutes. There are two 

types of IUDs: Hormonal, which secretes 

progestin, and copper, which doesn’t 

contain hormones. 

Birth Control Implants | A small rod 

– about the length of a matchstick – is 

inserted under the skin of the upper arm 

and is effective for around three years. It 

has the lowest failure rate of all nonpermanent 

birth control methods. It takes 

only a few minutes for a doctor or nurse 

to insert the device. No pelvic exam is 

required. 

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION 

Emergency contraception | Also 

called the ‘morning-after pill’. Reduces 

the likelihood of getting pregnant after 

unprotected sex. There are two types 

of pills: one that requires a prescription 

and can be taken up to 5 days after 

unprotected sex. The other one is 

available at pharmacies, without a 

prescription, and must be taken no later 

than 72 hours after unprotected sex. 

Pharmacies are legally required to ask 

questions and ask you to sign a form. 

Emergency contraception contains high 

doses of hormones that delay the release 

of an egg from the ovaries (ovulation) and 

inhibit fertilization, allowing sperm in the 

reproductive tract to die out. 

It should never be used as regular birth 

control because the high hormonal 

content will cause strong side effects. 

Besides, it is far more costly than simply 

getting regular contraception at a clinic. 

Emergency contraception also will not 

terminate a pregnancy and will not cause 

a spontaneous abortion. It prevents 

fertilization, that’s all. 

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are 99.9% 

effective as emergency contraception if 

inserted within five days of unprotected 

sex. An added advantage is that you then 

have regular protection. 

(See MEDICAL PROCEDURE REQUIRED 

elsewhere on this page.) 




PERMANENT BIRTH CONTROL 

Tubal Ligation | It is a minimally 

invasive procedure commonly known as 

getting your ‘tubes tied’. It permanently 

protects against pregnancy and is not 

reversible. Many women who already 

have children opt to have the procedure 

done during a C-section or right after 

giving birth. 

Salpingectomy | Involves removing 

one or both fallopian tubes. 

NOTES 

Most contraception methods are 

available free of charge at public health 

clinics throughout SA. 

If you are badly treated because 

you’re young, see Problems with a 

Government hospital or clinic? in the 

HEALTH pages. 

If they don’t have stock, send a ‘Please 

Call Me’ to Stop Stockouts or WhatsApp 

call them on 084 855 7867 | 011 

728 7365 | report@stockouts.org | 

www.stockouts.org | f stockouts. 

Otherwise, go to a private health clinic 

or medical doctor. 

Also see PREGNANCY, CONTRACEPTION 

& ABORTION SERVICES in the HEALTH pages. 

BIRTH CONTROL FOR MEN 

Vasectomies | A 20-minute surgery 

that can be done in a doctor’s office. The 

procedure involves cutting and sealing 

the sperm-carrying tubes in the scrotum. 

Vasectomies can be reversed. 

– Naledi Pandor 

Here's what to expect 

as a teen mother 

Statistics show that 

a Your boyfriend is likely to disappear from the 

scene within a year of the baby being born – 

unless you both have family support to continue 

the relationship. African traditions make this 

difficult – not allowing the male access to the 

child until ‘damages’ have been paid. Tensions 

develop when this is not possible and the 

couple often move on to other relationships. 

a You will probably never complete your schooling 

– unless you have extraordinary support. 

60 – 70% of pregnant teens permanently 

drop out of school. But you can change that. 

Download Chapter 8 of the BASIC EDUCATION 

RIGHTS HANDBOOK: Pregnancy at https:// 

section27.org.za > Search for Basic Education 

Rights Handbook then find the relevant chapter. 

a You are more likely than other young people to 

be unemployed, unless you finish your studies. 

a The children of teen mothers are at greater risk 

of mental and emotional problems, often as a 

result of abuse and neglect because the mother 

does not have the emotional maturity to deal 

with the demands of a baby. 

See SUPPORT FOR SINGLE & TEEN PARENTS 

elsewhere in the WOMEN & FAMILY section 


– Aristotle 

>>>


YOUTH 

All you have is all you need. 

Live fearlessly and NEVER give up! 

Are you young 

and homeless? 

Are you thinking about 

running away from home? 

Do you live in a household 

without any adults? 

Photo | UNESCO 

Here are some things you can do to 

change your situation for the better | 

n 

Contact Childline on their 24-Hour, 

free helpline: 116 

n 

Speak with someone at any church 

near where you live. They will know 

how to get help for you. 

n 

Contact any organisation listed 

under STREET CHILDREN, YOUTH & 

CHILD/YOUTH-HEADED 

HOUSEHOLDS, as well as CHILD 

WELFARE ORGANISATIONS in the 

CHILD WELFARE pages. 

n 

Also see SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS, 

IMPOVERISHED, DESTITUTE & 

ADDICTED PEOPLE, as well as 

SHELTERS & PROGRAMMES FOR 

HOMELESS PEOPLE, in the SOCIAL 

WELFARE & HUMANITARIAN 

SUPPORT pages. 

n 

Look through the directory for 

resources that can help you create 

a better life for yourself. 

Don’t give up hope! Keep looking 

until you find help. There are many 

people and organisations out there 

that care and would like to help. 

t 


free access to education websites (and more). 

Find out from your service provider what’s 

possible. MTN: OpenTime | Vodacom: 

ConnectU | Cell C: CONNECT4FREE | 

Telkom / 8ta: Zero Rated Websites 

BIRTH CERTIFICATES, IDENTITY 

& OTHER DOCUMENTS 

Here is a list of documents that you will 

need throughout your life: 

1. Birth certificate | This is the 

linchpin that holds everything else 

together. You cannot apply for any of 

the below documents without it, which 

means that you cannot study after 

Matric, enter formal employment, get 

a driver’s license, travel outside the 

borders of South Africa, open a bank 

account or apply for grants. In short, 

you won’t be able to launch your adult 

life without a birth certificate. 

If you don’t have one, see BIRTH 

CERTIFICATES in the CHILD WELFARE 

pages elsewhere in the directory for 

information about what you need to do 

to get one. 

2. Identity document | You can apply 

for an ID document as soon as you turn 

16. You will need: 

• Your birth certificate 

• A certified copy of the ID of one of 

your parents or legal guardian 

• Death certificates if your parents have 

died 

• Proof of residence: an envelope 

or communication posted to the 

address where you live. Or a letter 

from a bank or cell phone company 

confirming your address. If these 

documents are addressed to your 

parent or legal guardian, they must 

supply an affidavit confirming that 

you live at that address. 

The first ID document is supplied free of 

charge, but if you lose it, you will have 

to pay for a replacement. 

If you don’t have an ID and are having 

problems obtaining one for whatever 

reason, contact: 

Thusong Service Centres | One-stop 

centres where you can get assistance 

with ID documents. Contact the relevant 

provincial office (below) to get the number 

and directions to a Thusong Service Centre 

closest to you. 

• Eastern Cape | 043 722 2602 

• Free State | 051 448 4504 

• Gauteng | 011 834 3560 

• KwaZulu-Natal | 031 301 6787 

• Limpopo | 015 291 4689 

• Mpumalanga | 013 753 2397 

• North West | 018 381 7071 

• Northern Cape | 053 832 1378/9 

• Western Cape | 021 697 0145 

Or access information about any Thusong 

Service Centre in South Africa here: www. 

gov.za/about-government/contact-directory/ 

thusong 

Or contact any of the organisations 

listed under WELFARE & HUMANITARIAN 

SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS in the SOCIAL 

WELFARE & HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT 

pages to ask for assistance with getting 

your ID. 

3. Matric certificate | This single 

document determines your access 

(or not) to formal study opportunities 

and employment opportunities. It is 

replaced as a ‘door-opener’ only once 

you obtain a next qualification. It, too, 

requires possession of a birth certificate. 

If you’ve lost or damaged your matric 

certificate, contact your old school or 

the Department of Basic Education 

for assistance. If your Matric results 

were poor and bar you from tertiary 

education, apply to re-write Matric. See 

MATRIC in the EDUCATION: PRIMARY 

& SECONDARY SCHOOL SUBJECT 

RESOURCES pages. 

Access to many opportunities will 

depend on you having one or all of the 

above three documents. Keep them 

safe, clean, not folded, in individual 

plastic sheets in a large envelope, box 

or lever-arch file. Use this to store 



YOUTH 

everything that will help you in your life: 

educational certificates, job references, 

letters of recommendation, etc. 

Watch this TEDtalk to understand the 

issues around life without documentation 

| I am 30 years old, and a month ago I 

got my first passport, Maha Mamo 

– Langston Hughes 

COOL FREE THINGS ONLINE 

Also see COOL TOOLS FOR STUDENTS in 

the EDUCATION: PRIMARY & SECONDARY 

SCHOOL SUBJECT RESOURCES pages 

Obooko | Books that are legally licensed 

for free download in PDF, ePub & Kindle. 

Many sites now offer access to free books. 

Obooko has a section that caters for books 

that were written for teens or young adults– 

available to read on smartphones while on 

the go | Use this exact URL: www.obooko. 

com/category/free-books-for-teens 

Also see: FREE VIRTUAL LIBRARIES & OTHER 

SOURCES OF FREE BOOKS & INFORMATION 

in the EDUCATION: ACCESS TO BOOKS 

pages, elsewhere in the directory 

FREE Wi-Fi 

National & provincial governments, 

as well as individual cities have 

gone to great lengths to make Wi-Fi 

available to all the people of South 

Africa. Google “Free Wi-Fi in ...” (the 

name of your area or nearest centre 

of commercial activity) to see what 

is available, where. 

YouTube | Interesting channels | 

#WeTheNetSA | Art Prof: Create & 

Critique | chescaleigh | COLORS | 

Elaine | Emmanuel Acho | Feminist 

Frequency | JJ Olatunji | Kay Yarms | 

Kyle Haganami | Lasizwe Dambuza | 

Liziqi | Magda Civil | marinashutup 

| Nyma Tang | Pap Culture | Russell 

Brand | Sibu MpanzaSA | Simone 

Giertz | Siyanda Mohutsiwa (also watch 

her 2 amazing TEDtalks: ‘Is Africa’s Future 

Online?’ and ‘How young Africans found a 

voice on Twitter’) | Thato Rampedi | 

vlogbrothers | Vusi Thembekwayo | 

(Not channels, but look for vids that feature 

Haile Thomas or Zulaikha Patel ... and be 

inspired.) 

YouTube | Learning channels: Big Think 

| LearnOutLoud | PBS Idea Channel 

| Smithsonian Channel | Ted | The 

School of Life | Wisecrack 

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS 


| Responsible for providing social 

development, protection and welfare 

services to the public. Contact the office in 

your province to find out what programmes 

and facilities are available for youth in your 

area | customercare@dsd.gov.za | 

www.dsd.gov.za | f Department of Social 

Development 

• National Care Helpline | 012 312 7727 

Provincial Departments | Provincial 

websites offer varying levels of useful 

information. 

• Eastern Cape | 043 605 5419 / 043 605 

5000 | www.ecdsd.gov.za | f Eastern 

Cape Department of Social Development 

• Free State | 066 487 6238 / 051 

400 0302/4/7 | www.socdev.fs.gov. 

za | f Free State Department of Social 

Development 

• Gauteng | 011 355 7600/56 / 7687 / 

7878 / 011 227 0000 | www.gauteng. 

gov.za/departments > Department of 

Social Development | f Gauteng 


• KwaZulu-Natal | 033 264 5400 / 

3001/2/4 | www.kzndsd.gov.za | f 

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social 

Development 

• Limpopo | 015 230 4300 / 015 293 

6004 / 6053/4 | www.dsd.limpopo. 

gov.za | f Department of Social 

Development Limpopo - DSD 

• Mpumalanga 013 766 3031 / 3098 / 

3111 / 3156 / 3253 | www.dsdmpu. 

gov.za | f Mpumalanga Department of 


• North West | 018 388 2000 / 388 3040 

/ 018 387 3434 / 0255 | dsd.nwpg.gov. 

za | f North West Department of Social 

Development 

• Northern Cape | 053 807 5600 / 053 

874 9100 | www.northern-cape.gov.za / 

socdev.ncpg.gov.za | f Northern Cape 


• Western Cape | 0800 220 250 / 

021 483 5045 / 3858 / 3765 / 3158 

/ 5445 | www.westerncape.gov. 

za/dept/social-development | f 

WesternCapeGovernment 

Department of Women, Youth and 

Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) | 

Advocates for, monitors and empowers 

women, youth and persons with disabilities 

to ensure their meaningful participation in 

all areas of the economy and the workplace 

| 012 359 0000 / 0011 / 0013 / 0071 | 

ministry@women.gov.za | www.dwypd. 

Tube 

gov.za | f dwypdza | You 

DWYPD 

MENTORSHIP PROGRAMMES 


• MENTORSHIP in the ENTREPRENEURSHIP, 

as well as in the MEN & BOYS pages 

• PROGRAMMES FOR GIRLS & YOUNG 

WOMEN in the WOMEN & FAMILY pages 

Khulisa Social Solutions | Helps 

mentees discover key personality traits and 

aptitudes; matches mentees with career, 

entrepreneurship or skills development 

pathways; promotes positive behaviour, 

enhanced motivation and increased wellbeing 

| 011 788 8237 | info@khulisa. 

org.za | www.khulisa.org.za | f Khulisa 

You 

Tube 

Social Solutions | Khulisa Solutions 

Learn to Become a Mentor 

Bright Stars Mentorship 

Programme | Free, 

downloadable training materials 

to develop mentors, templates to 

screen and appoint mentors, and 

more. A project of The Peace Agency 

| www.brightstarsmentors.org.za 

The Chronicle of Evidence-Based 

Mentoring | Expert information 

on youth mentoring | www. 

evidencebasedmentoring.org 

National Mentorship Movement | An 

NPO that connects volunteer mentors with 

mentees (entrepreneurs, unemployed youth 

and students) for the reciprocal sharing of 

knowledge, experience and wisdom. The 

service is free. The aim is to help create 

confident and successful people, transform 

the economy, grow employment, build 

relationships of trust across society and 

create a sustainable future for all South 

Africans | Register online to become 


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