| Administrative History | Programme spending in 1993/94, 1994/95
South Africa's original connection with Save the Children (SCF) was as a donor. There was a Save the Children Fund committee within the first year of the Fund, which raised considerable sums. The South African government, like the British, at first matched SCF fundraising on a 'pound for pound' basis. Within a few years, however fundraising in South Africa had fallen away considerably and although there were a small number of continuing donors, especially schools, the Fund as a committee felt sufficiently concerned at the prospect of the transfer of administration of Bechuanaland (now Botswana) and Basutoland (now Lesotho) to South Africa to make representations to the Dominions Secretary. "The Committee drew attention to certain evils and asked that ion the formation of any new policy the needs of the children should take precedence". In 1938, the committee receieved a report from Mary Attlee on coloured children in Cape Peninsula.
In 1939, a grant of £40 to South Africa is listed, although the purpose is not known. The money seems to have been given to the South Africa Child welfare association [Council, 19 Jan 1939].
From 1973 SCF provided funding for projects run in South Africa, often those run by local SCF branches, including the Cape Town and Johannesburg branches. Project included feeding centres, an infant resuscitation unit, support for Mozambican refugees and primary health care projects, principally at the Alexandra Health Centre. These projects were expanded out in the 1990s to include funding for a Training for Pre-School Teachers project, and funding for a Community Based Rehabilitation programme at the Alexandra Health Centre. |