Mowana

What Mowana does

Mowana Communities NPC is a South African non-profit company that operates a continuum of senior living and care services across the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Formed on 1 April 2024 from the merger of PADCA (Pietermaritzburg and District Care for the Aged, established c.1949) and HADCA (Hilton and District Care for the Aged, established c.1976), the organization runs nine village locations spanning Pietermaritzburg and Howick, including Woodgrove Village (life-rights basis), Sunnyside Village, Villa Assumpta, Kurume Complex, Elizabeth Gardens, Hayfields Gardens, Greendale House, and Midmar Gardens. Its service portfolio covers independent living, assisted living, fully supported (frail) care, and memory care, supplemented by a Community Services Programme that operates 17 rural social clubs and a home-based carer programme reaching over 460 older adults directly.

The organization's operating model rests on a 'person-directed support' care philosophy — a methodology emphasizing older adults' autonomy and decision-making in their own care — delivered by an in-house social work team and operationalized through direct village offices, a Head Office in Clarendon (Pietermaritzburg), and a Howick Area Office. Mowana earns revenue through five streams: one-time life-rights acquisitions (R1.2M–R2.6M per unit), recurring monthly levies (R3,826–R5,215 per resident), rental income (starting at R5,333/month), care service fees, and community donations/grants channelled through the PADCA Trust. The organization serves seniors across the financial spectrum, including those reliant on the Older Persons Grant, with subsidized care (R4,001 per person/month) funded by donations.

Mowana is governed by a Board chaired by Mark Laing with Trevor Clowes as CEO. Distribution is regional and direct, relying on village offices, on-show events, open-gardens weekends, community outreach, and word-of-mouth referrals, with supporting digital presence via website, Facebook, and Instagram. The organization is registered as a Non-Profit Company (2023/768779/08), Non-Profit Organisation (NPO295-980), and Public Benefit Organisation, with no external private-equity or venture-capital ownership disclosed. Headcount stands at 51–100 employees.

Name

Mowana

Legal name

Mowana Communities NPC

Website

https://mowana.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Mowana Communities NPC is a South African non-profit operating nine senior living villages across Pietermaritzburg and Howick, offering independent living, assisted living, frail care, and memory care to elderly residents across the financial spectrum, formed from the 2024 merger of PADCA and HADCA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Living & Elderly Care Services

NAICS

Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312), Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (62311), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Assisted Living with Enhanced Care / High-Acuity (Aging-in-Place) (HLADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Market-Rate Independent Living (Private Pay) Communities (HLADAAAA), Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) with Memory Care (HLADACAD), Long-Term Care Nursing Homes (Custodial LTC) (HLADADAB), Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

Keywords

• Senior living services
• Assisted living care
• Memory care services
• Independent living communities
• Elderly care facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Pietermaritzburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Life Rights Sales: Residents purchase life rights to occupy independent living units in Mowana villages. This is a one-time acquisition cost with ongoing monthly levy payments. Examples: R2,625,100 for free-standing homes, R1,804,700 for terraced apartments.
2. Monthly Levies: Ongoing monthly levy payments from residents in independent living and village communities cover maintenance, security, and communal services. Levies range from R3,826 to R5,215 per month depending on the property.
3. Rental Income: Rental income from flats and units, particularly at Kurume Complex. Example: R5,333 per month for a rental flat including water and security.
4. Care Services: Revenue from providing various levels of care including assisted living, fully supported care, and memory care services to residents as their needs evolve.
5. Community Donations and Grants: The PADCA Trust provides financial backing through grants and special projects funding. The organization also receives donations from community members for care packs, toiletries, and support programs for seniors with limited financial means.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mowana operates a portfolio of nine retirement villages in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands of South Africa, providing a full continuum of care for older adults. Offerings span independent living (life rights and rentals), assisted living, fully supported 24-hour frail care, and specialized memory care for residents with dementia, alongside a community outreach programme serving rural seniors.

Product overview

Mowana (Midlands Senior Living Communities) is a non-profit organisation offering a continuum of residential living options for older adults in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands region. The portfolio comprises nine community villages across Howick and Pietermaritzburg, providing care levels from Independent Living through to Fully Supported Care and Memory Care. The villages include Woodgrove Village (life rights basis), Sunnyside Village, Villa Assumpta Village, Kurume Complex (rental basis), Elizabeth Gardens, Hayfields Gardens, Greendale House, and Midmar Gardens, each offering different housing types (free-standing homes, terraced cottages, apartments). A Community Services Programme extends support to rural communities through social clubs, home-based carers, and outreach initiatives. The organisation resulted from the 2024 merger of HADCA and PADCA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Independent Living Gated village living for older adults who want independence with community support, featuring private homes or apartments with access to communal facilities and activities.
• Assisted Living Support services for older adults who need help with daily activities while maintaining independence.
• Fully Supported Care (Frail Care) Comprehensive 24-hour frail care and support services for residents requiring full-time assistance.
• Memory Care Specialized care and support services for individuals living with dementia and memory-related conditions.
• Woodgrove Village Retirement village in Pietermaritzburg offering independent living on a life rights basis with free-standing homes, terraced cottages, communal facilities including the Louis Sennet Centre and Woodies Coffee Shop.
• Sunnyside Village (Sunnyside Park Home) Village in Pietermaritzburg providing accommodation across the financial spectrum, including frail care services and the Clivia Place frail care facility.
• Villa Assumpta Village Retirement village in Wembley, Pietermaritzburg offering residential living options for older adults.
• Kurume Complex Independent living complex in Pietermaritzburg offering rental units for older adults, including water and security in monthly rent.
• Elizabeth Gardens Retirement community in Howick offering housing options for older adults.
• Hayfields Gardens Retirement community in Howick providing accommodation options for older adults.
• Greendale House (Greendale Care Centre) Care centre in Howick providing residential care services for older adults.
• Midmar Gardens Retirement community in Howick offering housing options for older adults.
• Community Services Programme Outreach services to rural communities providing social support, income-generating projects, social clubs, and home-based carer programme for older adults in the Pietermaritzburg region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 32 frail residents provided with toiletries at approximately R65/person/month
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rand Aid Association: South African nonprofit operating multiple retirement villages and care centres in Johannesburg with a continuum of independent living, frail care, and dementia support—directly comparable to Mowana's NPC model and service mix.
• Baptist Village South Africa: Nonprofit retirement and frail-care operator in South Africa serving older adults across financial means, with a similar faith-based, multi-site residential care approach.
• Somerpoort Retirement Village: South African retirement complex offering independent living, assisted living, and frail care on a single campus, mirroring Mowana's continuum-of-care villages.
• Noordheuwel Retirement Village: Gated retirement village offering independent living with on-site frail and dementia care in Krugersdorp, South Africa—closely aligned to Mowana's village-based, multi-level care model.
• Huis Nederland: Pretoria-based nonprofit old-age home providing residential, frail, and dementia care—an older-adult residential operator in South Africa with a comparable nonprofit service model.

Broad incumbents

• Heritage Lifecare: New Zealand provider of aged-care and retirement village services across independent and rest-home levels, serving a comparable mix of private- and subsidised-paying residents.
• Life Healthcare Group: Listed South African healthcare group with adjacent aged-care services and hospital networks; provides a national-scale benchmark for regional elder care operators like Mowana.
• Ryman Healthcare: Largest New Zealand operator of integrated retirement villages with independent living, assisted living, and dementia care—a scaled, listed analogue of Mowana's continuum-of-care village model.
• Amana Living: Western Australian nonprofit operating retirement villages, residential care, and dementia services—comparable continuum-of-care model for older adults with mixed funding sources.

Regional players

• Medwell SA: South African home-based care and community health provider—comparable to Mowana's Community Services Programme and rural social-club outreach in KZN.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Mowana.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/mowana.org1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/padca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mowana