The Association For The Aged (tafta)

What The Association For The Aged (tafta) does

Tafta (The Association for the Aged) is a registered South African non-profit organization (NPO 002093, PBO status) founded in 1958 in Durban and operating as the largest aged-care NPO in the country. It delivers a multi-service elderly care portfolio across 13 residential facilities and 5 Wellness Centres in greater Durban, serving 1,833 residents — including 105 requiring full-time frail care — and reaching more than 5,500 older people monthly through social workers, wellness programmes, and community clubs. Core services include rental accommodation, Life Rights scheme purchases, assisted living, frail care, social work, meal delivery (Meals on Wheels), home-based care, assistive device hire, respite care, and the TEAL National Elder Abuse Helpline.

The business model blends government subsidies (Department of Social Development covers 51.9% of frail care costs), donations and fundraising (Woolworths MyDifference, Robin Hood Foundation, annual Golf Day), income-assessed service fees (meal delivery, home-based care, assistive device hire), rental income from residential facilities, and one-time Life Rights scheme purchases. Pricing is largely nominal or income-assessed, reflecting the NPO mission; operating costs of approximately R5.4 million per month are sustained through continuous fundraising. Recent innovation includes VREP, a Virtual Reality Empathy Platform launched March 2026 in partnership with UK-based LifeLens and backed by University of Stirling research, which targets healthcare, architectural, and corporate training markets as a new B2B revenue stream.

Name

The Association For The Aged (tafta)

Legal name

The Association for the Aged

Website

https://tafta.org.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Tafta is a Durban-based South African non-profit founded in 1958 that operates 13 residential facilities, 5 Wellness Centres, and national elder-care services for over-60s, including frail care, social work, meals, home-based care, and the TEAL Elder Abuse Helpline, reaching 5,500+ older people monthly.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Elderly Care Services

NAICS

Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community-Based Senior Centers with Adult Day Services (HLADAIAJ), Housing & Placement Coordination (Assisted Living, Memory Care, SNF) (HSABAIAL)

Keywords

• Aged care services
• Elderly residential care
• Social work services
• Home based care
• Wellness programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Durban

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidies: Funding from Department of Social Development (DSD) providing subsidies for frail care services. State Old Age Pensioners and DSD subsidy cover approximately 51.9% of Frail Care costs.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Reliance on contributions from local businesses, individuals, trusts, and service clubs. Operating costs amount to around R5.4 million per month, with fundraising and awareness programmes critical to operations.
3. Accommodation Rentals: Rental income from residential facilities for older persons including rooms, flats, and cottages. Eligibility requires being over 60 with minimum income of State Pension.
4. Life Rights Scheme: Purchase of life rights to specific units where buyers pay for the right to live in a unit for life. On termination, purchaser receives 100% of purchase price or 80% of resale price, whichever is lesser. No transfer duty, VAT, or registration fees.
5. Meal Delivery Service Fees: Nominal fees charged based on person's income for nutritious meal delivery service. Subsidized meals available for those who cannot afford the full cost through donor support.
6. Home Based Care Charges: Income-assessed charges for home-based care services including personal hygiene, cleaning, laundry, shopping, medication management, and nursing assessment.
7. Assistive Devices Hire: Nominal fees charged for hiring assistive devices including wheelchairs, walking frames, commodes, bath seats, back rests, and other mobility aids.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tafta provides residential accommodation (rental and Life Rights), assisted living, frail care, social work services, meal delivery, home-based personal care, respite care, assistive device hire, and wellness centres for older persons in greater Durban. The organization operates 13 residential facilities, 5 wellness centres, and a national elder abuse helpline, serving over 5,500 older people monthly with services free or at nominal charge.

Product overview

Tafta offers a comprehensive portfolio of elder care services across the greater Durban area, centered on 13 residential facilities. The portfolio spans core accommodation services (rental rooms and Life Rights scheme purchases), three levels of care (independent living, assisted living, and frail care), plus support services including social work, meal delivery, home-based care, assistive device hire, and respite care. The organisation also operates six Wellness Centres providing social activities and companionship, and maintains a national elder abuse helpline (TEAL). A notable innovation is VREP (Virtual Reality Empathy Platform) - an immersive VR experience simulating ageing and dementia for training purposes. Services are delivered free or at nominal cost, with the organisation relying heavily on donations and government subsidies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accommodation to Rent Rental accommodation in furnished rooms, flats, and cottages across 13 residential facilities in greater Durban, available to adults over 60 with a minimum income of State Pension. Many homes have waiting lists with urgent cases given preference.
• Life Rights Scheme Purchase of life rights to reside in specific units for life, where Tafta retains ownership of the property. Buyers pay the right to live in a unit for life; on termination, purchasers receive 100% of purchase price or 80% of resale price, whichever is lesser, with no transfer duty, VAT, or registration fees.
• Assisted Living Assisted living facilities providing support for daily activities while maintaining independence, available at select Tafta homes for older persons who need help with day-to-day tasks but do not require full-time frail care.
• Frail Care Full-time 24-hour care by trained caregivers with medical supervision for elderly requiring comprehensive support. Operated at 3 dedicated frail care units across Tafta facilities, including John Dunn House, John Conradie House/Langeler Towers, and other locations.
• Social Work Services Free professional social work services including confidential consultations, home visits, budgeting assistance, and abuse investigations for older persons. Service is delivered via telephone consultations, office interviews, or home visits at no charge.
• Meal Delivery Service (Meals on Wheels) Nutritionally balanced meal delivery service for people aged 60 and over who cannot cook for themselves. Fresh meals are delivered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at nominal fees based on the person's income, with subsidized meals available for those unable to afford the cost.
• Assistive Devices Hire Hire of assistive devices including wheelchairs, walking frames/tripods, commodes, bedpans, rubber sheeting, air rings, sheepskin bed covers, bath/shower seats, and back rests at nominal fees to support elderly mobility and daily living.
• Home Based Care In-home care services including personal hygiene, cleaning, laundry, shopping, medication management, and nursing assessment by trained carers for elderly wanting to remain independent in their own homes. Charges are assessed according to income.
• Respite Care and Rehabilitation Temporary care for elderly requiring recovery support after illness or surgery. Includes 24-hour care, single/shared rooms, and sensory garden facilities to provide relief for primary caregivers and rehabilitation for the resident.
• Wellness Centres Social activity centres providing companionship, midday meals, and activities (bingo, bridge, crafts, exercises) for older persons. Five wellness centres operate (Anna Conradie, Mary Asher, Oldfield, Primrose, plus Jolly Hearts Club and Happy Hearts Club) with over 2,000 members.
• TEAL (Tafta Elder Abuse Line) National toll-free elder abuse helpline (0800 10 11 10) with WhatsApp support (072 459 2613) and email channel, providing crisis intervention, support, and resources for elder abuse victims and those who know of elderly people being abused. Since launch, the helpline has handled over 3,184 calls.
• VREP (Virtual Reality Empathy Platform) Immersive virtual reality platform simulating visual impairment, hearing challenges, mobility limitations, cognitive confusion, and emotional responses such as frustration, helplessness, and anxiety experienced by people living with dementia. Targets care providers, healthcare professionals, families, architects, and corporate training teams for dementia empathy training and age-friendly design.
• Information Services Free information services covering retirement planning, wills, elder abuse, Alzheimer's disease, and resources for caregivers of older persons. Provides guidance on relevant social grants and care needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,184 calls handled by National Elder Abuse Helpline since launch
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• TEAL National Elder Abuse HelplinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Launched National Toll-free Elder Abuse Helpline in November 2022 as a crucial service for thousands of older persons across South Africa affected by elder abuse.
• Capitol CatererscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Tafta's in-house catering division Cook 'n Care closed and catering for all Tafta buildings was outsourced to Capitol Caterers, ensuring continued meal services for residents.
• Illungelo LabadalamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Collaborative project between TAFTA and community-based organisation Illungelo Labadala for the official opening of the village for vulnerable people in Amaoti, Inanda in 2003.
• LifeLens Technology (UK)coreTechnology or IntegrationVREP powered by LifeLens technology developed in the United Kingdom. Exclusive South African implementation partner for VREP LifeLens.
• University of StirlingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-leading research by University of Stirling, internationally recognised for leadership in dementia and ageing research, backs VREP platform development.
• Commonwealth Association for the Ageing (Commonage)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTafta CEO Femada Shamam serves as Africa Ambassador for Commonage and participates in global conferences shaping policies around elder care and best practices for inclusion and protection of older people.
• Reside SummitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTafta exhibited at Reside Summit at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg (May 2026) showcasing VREP platform under theme 'Transforming Spaces, Enriching Lives'.
• Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint campaign with GAROP petitioning for UN Convention on the Rights of Older People. Tafta launched Sawubona initiative to combat ageism through recognising and acknowledging the value of older people.
• University of JohannesburgmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research with University of Johannesburg on elder abuse in South Africa, investigating gaps and strengths in service provision to mitigate elder abuse.
• iKamva LabantumajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCape Town NPO collaborating with Tafta and University of Johannesburg on research into elder abuse scourge.
• Woolworths MyDifferenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShopping rewards programme where customers can select Tafta as beneficiary, with portion of spend allocated to the organisation at no extra cost.
• Starke AyresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for Sow Seeds of Hope Spring Day planting initiative across all 13 Tafta homes.
• Department of Social Development (DSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership through Department of Social Development to provide critical services which government is unable to do on its own. Provides subsidies for frail care though funding falls short of true costs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Age UK: UK national charity providing information, advocacy, and care coordination services to older people — comparable in mission, national elder-abuse helpline services, advocacy work, and brand-recognition-driven service model.
• AARP: US-based large-scale advocacy and service organisation for older persons — comparable in national advocacy campaigns (Sawubona / GAROP), membership-style wellness programming, and brand-led fundraising.
• Eden Alternative: International organisation whose care model Tafta is accredited under — provides the philosophical and operational framework for Tafta's residential care differentiation.

Direct peers

• Highlands House: Cape Town-based Jewish community NPO offering residential care, frail care and assisted living — comparable in scope, mission and funding mix (donations + subsidies + fees) to Tafta.
• Rand Aid Association: South African NPO operating retirement villages, frail care, and home-based care services in Johannesburg — the most direct operational and structural comparable to Tafta's Durban operations, serving a similar affordable-elderly segment.
• LifeLens Technology: UK-based technology partner that powers Tafta's VREP platform — directly comparable as a peer in dementia-training VR technology, and a key counterpart given the exclusive South African implementation relationship.
• St Joseph's Home: South African NPO providing residential and chronic care for elderly and frail adults, including dementia — directly comparable service mix to Tafta's frail care and dementia offerings.

Regional players

• Aged Care New Zealand Charitable Trust: Aged-care focused NPO outside South Africa with similar community-led model and reliance on volunteers/donations for elder services — useful as a peer for cross-comparison of NPO elder-care operating models.
• Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa: South African NPO association providing care and advocacy for a vulnerable population — comparable in operating structure, government partnership approach, and reliance on skilled care professionals and donations.
• CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa): Established South African NPO providing health-related support services to vulnerable populations — comparable in scale, NPO/PBO status, government partnership model, and reliance on donations and corporate fundraising.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TAFTA.KZN
• TikToktiktok.com/@taftasa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-association-for-the-aged-tafta

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 The Association For The Aged (tafta)