Residents of Rand Aid’s Inyoni Creek retirement village recently took part in a tour of the broader Rand Aid organisation, discovering the full extent of its operations and services.
Founded in 1903 to assist those left destitute or jobless after the Anglo-South African War, Rand Aid has grown into a non-profit organisation serving older persons and people in need. Today, it operates four independent-living retirement villages with a combined 792 units of freestanding homes and apartments, two frail care centres, and a rehabilitation centre for substance abuse, all situated in Edenvale and the surrounding areas.
Across its multiple properties, Rand Aid supports approximately 1 350 residents and employs an average of 420 permanent staff. Its centralised services, including storage, workshops, laundry and fleet maintenance, ensure efficient day-to-day operations.
The tour, held on October 7, was led by Inyoni Creek deputy manager Marinda Looyen and offered residents an insider view of the organisation. It began at Rand Aid’s head office, where CEO Gert Coetzee presented on the organisation and the RA Welfare Development Trust.
Adel Grobbelaar also explained to participants the substance abuse rehabilitation services offered at the SANCA Wedge Gardens Treatment Centre.
The group toured central stores and workshops, including the men’s shed, where residents of the retirement villages engage in hands-on DIY projects. These facilities form part of Rand Aid’s centralised services, which underpin the smooth operation of its villages and care centres.
The tour continued with a visit to the laundry, which handles around 121 700kg of laundry annually, and then to Ron Smith Care Centre, guided by manager Ulricka Beukman, to view the frail care facilities.
A light lunch was enjoyed at Good2Go, based at Inyoni Creek’s clubhouse, before the final stop at Thembalami Care Centre and the Max Ordman Deaf Association, where deputy manager Elize Raath provided an overview of services.
Marinda said the residents were impressed by the organisation’s size and the efficiency of its operations.
“Many residents didn’t realise how large and well-run Rand Aid is. They were all highly impressed by the scale of the organisation and the dedication of its staff,” she said.
“The tour offered residents a renewed appreciation for being part of an organisation with a long-standing history and meaningful impact on the community,” she says.
