Ons Tuis Elderly Care Homes

Established: 1929

Established by: Machteld Postmus

Purpose: Elderly care, frail care

Initial branches:

• Ons Tuis, Soutpansbergweg, Pretoria
• Machteld Postmushuis, Alexander Rd, Pretoria / Machteld Postmus-tehuis
• Ons Tuis, Observatory Rd, Johannesburg

Machteld Postmus (AI enhanced portrait)¹

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Timeline

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The Ons Tuis complex: Ons Tuis (Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria), Machteld Postmus House (Alexander Street, Pretoria), and Ons Tuis (Observatory Road, Johannesburg) were born in 1929 out of the initiative of Mrs Machteld Postmus, wife of a former Governor of the SA Reserve Bank.

Dr Johannes Postmus (1877 Netherlands - 1947) was the second Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) from 1932 until 1945.²

The beginning was small: a house in Schubart Street, Pretoria, with just two residents. On 1 April 1929, the first Ons Tuis was officially opened in Proes Street, Pretoria, with 14 elderly residents. In 1933, the home was relocated to the nurses' home of the old General Hospital in Potgieter Street which was made available by the then Administrator of the Transvaal, Mr Smit, at a nominal rent of 10c per year. It housed 70 elderly people.

Jacobus Stephanus Smit (1878-1960) served as the Administrator of the Transvaal Province from 1929 to 1934. Image source: National Portrait Gallery.

The Machteld-Postmus-saal was added to this complex in 1935—the beginning of the later Machteld Postmushuis—a hall where elderly people discharged from the hospital could go to recuperate.

Until 1941, there was only a management committee that had to handle everything: finances, house management, staff, and residents. In 1941, it was decided to transition and convert Ons Tuis into a utility company under the auspices of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk, so that this stable institution could provide a guarantee of continued existence. On Monday, 7 December 1942, the first meeting of the board of directors took place at 900 Schoeman Street, Pretoria, the (since demolished) home of Mr and Mrs Postmus.

In 1940 (during WW2), however, these buildings were requisitioned by the government of the time as an extension for the Defence Headquarters. The minutes of 5 October 1943 state: 'The takeover of the Potgieter Street property by the Department of Defence at the municipal valuation of £30,700 is being favorably considered.' Following years of negotiations, this only took place on 21 September 1949, and for a sum of £8,920. Because no suitable house could be found in Pretoria, Ons Tuis relocated to Observatory, Johannesburg—marking the beginning of the Johannesburg branch.

Machteld Postmushuis, Brooklyn Pta..²

A portion later moved back to a rented building in Capital Park, Pretoria. On 23 January 1945, it was decided to purchase land in Riviera, Pretoria. The building was erected in 1952.

• The artist Erich Mayer was living at the Riviera Ons Tuis (at least during 1957-1958).

On 21 June 1949, a decision was made to buy a property at 373 Alexander Street, Brooklyn, Pretoria, for £6,500 to serve as a 'Home for Invalids' (or Frail Care Home).

Ons Tuis Riviera.²

In 1946 (post WW2), it became possible to move Ons Tuis back to Pretoria. However, Ons Tuis, Johannesburg, also remained in existence to meet the need there. During 1952, a building for Ons Tuis was erected in Soutpansberg Road with the help of a sub-economic state housing loan, and in 1963, the clinic was added with full-time nurses

With a donation from the late Mrs Machteld Postmus in 1949, the Machteld Postmus House in Alexander Street was built, and after expansions in 1959, 48 elderly people were housed there. Both Afrikaans- and English-speaking elderly people, who were members of various churches, were accommodated in these three homes.

All three "Homes" fell under the Board of Directors, each with its own house management committee of 15 members meeting once a month. Members of the three Afrikaans Sister Churches served on these various house management committees.

The small beginning of two elderly people has grown to over 400 (by 1968). Although the Central and Provincial authorities provided amply in subsidies for board, housing, and medical services, and the residents payed their share of the board, Ons Tuis could make ends meet without the voluntary services of individuals through functions, donations, and bequests.

A new facility was erected in Johannesburg in 1970.

1971 job advertisement.

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Today, Ons Tuis operates eight facilities across South Africa. They offer a spectrum of care, from independent living (self-care units) to dedicated assisted living and specialized frail care (such as specialized wards for Alzheimer's and dementia patients).

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Sources

1. Herbst, R. (1968) Ons Tuis. Die Hervormer, Oct 1968.
2. Smith, P.M. (1975) Ons Tuis rushuis vir bejaardes. Die Hervormer, Apr 1975.