The recent launch of the Pure Hearts Safe House marked the beginning of a hopeful new chapter for Tongaat by promising a safe haven for vulnerable women and children.
The facility will provide emergency shelter for newborns up to 18 years old, as well as mothers affected by extreme neglect, abandonment, physical or sexual abuse, and domestic violence. It will also offer basic essentials such as food and nappies, medical care, social work intervention, counselling, and therapy.
Over the years, the Tongaat Child and Family Welfare Society has become the first port of call for orphaned and abandoned children in the community, as well as those subjected to extreme neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse.
One of the major challenges faced by the Tongaat Child and Family Welfare Society has been the lack of time to respond to emergency cases. Due to the ongoing challenges in finding temporary safe care, the Tongaat community urgently needed a crisis care facility. Pure Hearts Safe House was established to meet the immediate needs of abandoned, abused and neglected children in times of crisis.
Tongaat Child Welfare General Manager and Social Work Manager Jo Moodley said: “The name Pure Hearts reflects the mission behind this space — to provide care, protection and a safe environment for children who need it most. This opening marks an important milestone in Tongaat Child Welfare’s 86-year journey of serving children and families in the Tongaat community, reflecting on years of dedication, community spirit, generosity and commitment from everyone who helped make this dream a reality.”
Moodley said the safe house was established in response to the realities faced by many vulnerable children in the community.
“Every day, Tongaat Child Welfare receives calls from schools, police, government departments and community members about children who may be facing neglect, abuse, violence or abandonment. These calls are not just reports — they are urgent moments where intervention can change the direction of a child’s life.
Social workers are then sent out to investigate, support, protect and act in the best interests of the child. Pure Hearts Safe House exists because every child deserves safety, care and protection. It stands as a place of refuge for children who need immediate support, and as a reminder of the critical role that child welfare services play in building safer communities.”
Tongaat Child and Family Welfare Society President Clyde Pillay added: “This was indeed a dream come true — something spoken about for many years, and now it has come to fruition. This dream would not have been possible without the generosity of the donors, sponsors, partners and community members who stood behind the project and helped bring it to life. Together, we have taken an important step towards protecting children, restoring hope and strengthening the future of our community.”
