Emmanuel Old Age Home

About us

History of Emmanuel

The inspiration for Emmanuel Old Age Home came from Mara Fraser, affectionately known as Ouma Fraser. During a train journey through Krugersdorp, she felt a calling to establish a haven for the elderly.

Driven by this vision, Mrs. Sannie Smalberger and a dedicated team embarked on a search for a suitable location in 1982. Upon reaching the site where Emmanuel now stands, Mrs. Smalberger recognized it as the ideal place to bring Ouma Fraser’s vision to life

In 1983 building started with only R316,00 in the bank but through faith the groundbreaking started. In 1985 the foundations were done and the bricklaying started. On 26 October 1986 one fifth of the building was finished and the first people moved in. The personnel at that stage were Theunie and Ann Eysele (founders and first managers), Mrs. Roodt, Joey du Plessis, Dorothy Nelson, Engela Mollett and Claire van der Merwe. There were 42 elderly residing at that stage.

 

As the whole project was a work of faith from the start, the rest of the plans still had to realize and at one particular stage R9 000 was needed before a certain time. Ann Eysele prayed that weekend profusely, as the money had to be paid that Monday and that Sunday someone who was visiting one of the elderly gave her an envelope with a cheque for R10 000!

In 1990 the existing dining room, kitchen, frail care, etc. were built and in 1992 a part of the current frail care was occupied. In 1997 the whole building project was completed and was officially inaugurated.

Our lift was sponsored by NLDTF and installed in 2006.

Theunie and Ann Eysele retired January of 2010 and Bertus and Suzanne Booysen took over from them as the managers of Emmanuel. They have been transferred to Jatniël and from 1 March 2018 Jan and Christa Hamilton have taken over as managers.

Currently, Emmanuel has 145 residents, 81 paid staff and 28 volunteers.