EST. 1998 · KRUGERSDORP, SOUTH AFRICA
A Sanctuary for the Most Vulnerable.
For over 28 years, the Bethany House Foundation has stood on the front lines of child protection in South Africa, turning abandonment into belonging and trauma into a safe place where healing happens.
About Us
Building Belonging, Changing Lives
The Bethany House Trust (BHT) is a dedicated child protection organisation established in 1998 in response to a critical need: providing a safe space for children in need of protection and love, ensuring they have access to safe shelter, primary healthcare, education, and professional psycho-social support.
We step in when children face abuse, neglect, or abandonment, serving as a beacon of substitute parental love and restorative justice.
“All we have is our faith. We are here to do this work, protecting the vulnerable, as long as a single child needs a sanctuary.”
– Antoinette Jonker, Co-Founder
Our Programmes
Caring for the Vulnerable, Strengthening Communities
From emergency shelter to long-term healing, from the classroom to the courtroom, the four pillars that carry BHF’s work.
01.
Shelter & Protection
24-hour emergency Places of Safety and long-term residential care across our Child & Youth Care Centres, for children removed from abuse, neglect, and abandonment.
02.
Education & Therapeutic Empowerment
The Dream Factory and our Victim Empowerment Program give children remedial teaching, trauma counselling, and the support to testify safely and heal afterward.
03.
Community Welfare
Through CFW Muldersdrift, our social workers reach 21 informal settlements – removing children from danger and supporting the elderly, disabled, and those facing substance abuse.
04.
Sustainable Livelihoods
Tower of Life restores dignity to homeless and displaced men with shelter, nutrition, and a pathway back to independence.
Our programmes
Six Programmes.
One Foundation.
Bethany House CYCC
Seven family homes have sheltered babies through to age 18 since 1998, doubling as a 24-hour SAPS Place of Safety. Registered for 107 children, we constantly fight to secure additional beds for those with nowhere else to turn.
Ikusasa CYCC
A converted church in Krugersdorp’s CBD gives abused and neglected boys aged 7–21 a secure, specialised home. Registered for 48 children, we’re also raising funds for an inner-city green space where our boys can play and heal.
The Dream Factory
Because trauma disrupts education, five qualified educators provide daily remedial teaching and homework support to children in our care. Funding covers everything from uniforms and stationery to school transport and enrichment outings.
Tower of Life
This 100-bed shelter gives homeless men a warm bed, hot shower, and hot meal, alongside substance abuse counselling and rehabilitation support. Guests who are able contribute a minimal R30 a night to restore pride and accountability — beds for those too frail to work are sponsored instead.
CFW Muldersdrift
Our social welfare team reaches 21 informal settlements, removing children from abusive situations and placing them into loving foster care. The same overstretched team also supports the elderly, people with disabilities, and those facing substance abuse.
Victim Empowerment Program (VEP)
Working inside under-resourced schools, our team provides psycho-social therapeutic support and prepares children to testify safely in criminal court proceedings. Long-term trauma, anti-bullying, and abuse counselling continue well after the courtroom.
Our Commitment
Touching Lives, Changing Tomorrows
Shelter
Emergency and long-term Places of Safety for children with nowhere else to turn.
Health
Primary healthcare, nutrition, and psycho-social support for every child in our care.
Education
Remedial teaching, school support, and a path to a future beyond survival.
Community
Social welfare, foster placements, and family preservation across Muldersdrift.
100,000+ Beneficiaries Reached
Join us in the journey to protect, heal, and restore vulnerable children and communities across South Africa.
Join us in the journey to protect, heal, and restore vulnerable children and communities across South Africa.
Our Team
Meet Our Amazing Team
Antoinette Jonker
Co-Founder
Name Surname
Finance Director
Name Surname
Admin
Name Surname
Head of Social Work
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Bethany House Trust is a registered Public Benefit Organisation (PBO 18/11/13/3125) and is authorised by SARS to issue Section 18A tax-exempt certificates for all qualifying donations.
Our accounts run on Xero, managed by an independent accounting firm and audited yearly by external auditors, so every rand is tracked with full transactional transparency.
Yes. As a fully transformed entity in terms of management and direct beneficiaries, a partnership with BHT contributes toward your socio-economic development scorecard. See our Corporate CSI page to get started.
Yes, via GiveButter for international donors. Donors can give directly through Payfast or by EFT using our banking details on the Donate page.
Get Started
Embrace Compassion, Inspire Change
Whether you give once, sponsor a child’s care, or partner with us as a company, you become part of the sanctuary.