A Bit About Us

Known initially as the Johannesburg Council For The Care Of The Aged (JCCA), JAFTA opened a single office in 1954 in Braamfontein
.JAFTA  then took offices in Happiness House in 1968
In 1971 the Home Help Department was established to cater for housebound elderly
In 1976, a Black Social Worker was appointed to work in Soweto, the first in the country employed by a Welfare organisation
Between 1978 and 1980, the Organisation’s first Senior’s Centre was opened, named the Beehive
The second Senior’s Centre opened in Soper Road, Berea, followed by a Senior’s Club in the centre of Johannesburg, later renamed the Silver Threads Senior Centre, and a third Centre opened in Turffontein.
In 1981, the Organisation acquired an apartment block, Park Royal
During 1981, The Organisation had its name changed to the Johannesburg Association For The Aged (JAFTA), and was registered as a Welfare Organisation
In 1983 a seven storey hotel building in Hillbrow (known as El Kero) was bought by Lions International and leased to JAFTA as an Old Age Home
In 1990, JAFTA bought the building
In 1995 we moved to The Hill. Until 2003, the home renamed Alkemade Home for Senior Citizens was frail care.  However, in 2003, due mainly to decreasing state subsidies, it was decided to convert some of the wards, rooms etc into self contained units for older independent living people