For 70 Years, This Johannesburg Sanctuary Has Filled a Gap Most Would Rather Ignore

Woodside Sanctuary quietly leads in dignified care for people with profound intellectual disabilities — and the need has never been greater.

In a society where the most vulnerable are often unseen, Woodside Sanctuary has spent seven decades doing what few institutions have had the capacity — or willingness — to do: provide dignified, full-time residential care for people with profound intellectual disabilities.

Founded 70 years ago, this Johannesburg-based non-profit has become a lifeline for individuals with severe intellectual challenges, many of whom have been abandoned or whose families are unable to provide the round-the-clock support they require. The Sanctuary’s existence addresses one of South Africa’s most overlooked social crises — the chronic shortage of quality long-term care for people living with profound intellectual disabilities.

The need is far greater than most realise. An estimated 1 in 50 South Africans lives with some form of intellectual disability, yet the majority remain invisible in public discourse and underserved in public systems (South African Journal of Child Health, 2021). Many facilities across the country lack the specialised medical, developmental and therapeutic capacity required for complex intellectual disabilities, leaving countless individuals at risk of neglect, abuse or institutionalisation in environments fundamentally unsuitable for their needs.

Woodside Sanctuary offers a compassionate alternative.

Residents receive 24-hour care from a team of professional nurses, therapists, and trained support staff, all working within an environment built around safety, consistency and human dignity. But this level of care is resource-intensive — and sustaining it is a constant struggle.

As Woodside celebrates its 70th anniversary, the team is using the moment not merely to honour a legacy, but to call for action. Sustainable funding, greater public involvement and stronger national support structures for inclusive disability care are urgently needed.

“Too often, children born with profound intellectual disabilities are left with no place to go and no one able or willing to care for them,” says General Manager Kirsten Williams. “Heidi, one of our most beloved residents, arrived here as an infant when her family couldn’t care for her. She’s now 63 and has only ever known Woodside as home. Her story is just one of many. For 70 years, we’ve stood in that gap — offering dignity, safety, and love to those the world often overlooks.”

Hundreds of individuals have passed through Woodside Sanctuary’s doors over the decades, each receiving personalised care that enables them to live with dignity despite their profound challenges. It is a story of quiet heroism — one South Africa urgently needs to hear.

Ways the Public Can Support Woodside Sanctuary

• Join the 500 Club: Become part of their monthly giving community from as little as R50
• Make a Donation Online: https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/hWIHNvjy
• Share Their Story: Help spread awareness
• Visit the Sanctuary: Witness firsthand the impact of compassionate, specialised care