Ekuphumuleni Care of the Aged was established on the 2nd February 1995 because of the needs and hardships experienced by thr elderly people at the pay point and at their homes. Concerned elderly people and volunteers came together to form what is known today as Ekuphumuleni Care of the Aged. In 1998 the 2nd of April the Organization received a subsidy of R 50 000 from the Department of Welfare for
development. Ekuphumuleni has and continues serve the interest of elderly persons by providing a comprehensive service to the aged persons of Ekangala and its surrounding areas. We are providing services to 36 elderly persons who are being subsidized by Health and Social Development program and still have 50 members who are registered on the waiting list. At present we have 42 members attending daily and 20 members who are on the food on wheels program, also 10 families who have been identified for food parcels. Currently the Organization receives a subsidy of R 5400 from the Department which translate to R 1800 per month
The project has active members with a good hard working committee. In November 2002 a yard with a 2 roomed house was bought amounting to R15 000.00. R10 000.00 was used to construct 2 flushing toilets. The organization started with the project of brick making, the baking programme has been placed on hold due to its high demand of electricity. On the 18th August 2005 the organization submitted an application for funding from the National Lottery Distribution Funds. The organization received a grant of R517 000.00 in 2007. It was allocated in 2 tranches where the majority of the funds was used in building the centre. The second tranche allocated was used to purchase a Toyota Quantum Combi , R216 000.00 was paid and there was an outstanding amount of R11 900.00.The outstanding amount was paid by from the founder ‘s personal funds. In 1998 we were part of a fun run for senior citizens organized by the Department of Sports And Recreation. We strongly believe if we can have participation of the private sector we can be able to make this an annual event; building social and economic relations in our community. In 2005 we had an invitation from the State Theatre to come decorate the State Theatre’s parking area where Ekuphumuleni went and got painters from our disadvantaged families in our area and displayed the craft done by elder persons of the centre and some of their products were exported. That gave us hope to say with proper business skills we can increase our workforce and production for more value.
