Huis Tekna

Children in the area who had been physically, mentally, or sexually abused had nowhere to go that was close, trusted, and equipped to help them heal. She gathered a few women from the community, and they began to lay the foundation for what would become Huis Tekna.

The name "Tekna" is the Greek word for "children" — drawn from its use in the New Testament. The Home received its registration as a Place of Safety cum Children's Home from the Department of Social Development shortly after its founding, and has been caring for children from Limpopo ever since. In 2025, Huis Tekna celebrated its 28th year of service.

Who Tekna Serves

Huis Tekna cares for children from birth to 12 years of age who have been physically, mentally, or sexually abused. Children are placed at Tekna by: the Department of Social Development, welfare organisations, or by court order. The Home has capacity for 46 children.

Over the years, as Tekna's reputation has grown, its catchment area has expanded from the local Bela-Bela community to include children from "all corners of Limpopo" — reflecting both the growth of need and the relative scarcity of similar facilities in the province.

Services

Residential Place of Safety A secure, nurturing home environment for children while abuse investigations proceed and families are assessed. For children placed by court order, Tekna provides the stable, safe base the court has determined they need.

Intensive Therapy The Home describes its approach as providing intensive therapy — addressing the psychological, emotional, and developmental consequences of abuse through structured therapeutic services. This is not merely a housing provision; Tekna actively works to help children process and begin to recover from trauma.

Family Life Stabilisation Huis Tekna explicitly names the stabilisation of family life as a goal — working with families alongside children, in collaboration with government and welfare organisations, to address the conditions that led to abuse and, where possible, create conditions for safe reunification.

Community and Government Collaboration Tekna is explicitly positioned as working "with the community, government and welfare organisations" — not as an isolated facility, but as part of a network of child protection services. The South African child protection system requires this kind of multi-actor collaboration to function.

Faith Community and Donor Support

Huis Tekna is deeply embedded in the faith community of Bela-Bela. Several local Dutch Reformed congregations (NG Moedergemeente Warmbad, NG Wes Warmbad) and the AGS Warmbad and Methodist Church are listed as donors — reflecting the community ownership of the Home. National funders include ABSA Trust, Beeld Kinderfonds, Fidelity Foundation, Donaldson Trust, Nedgroup Trust, and several individual trusts. International support comes from Belgium (Ann Ruysseveldt, Gaverzicht Foundation, Kiewetfonds) and beyond.

Relevance to GBV Survivors

Huis Tekna is not a GBV shelter for adults. Its primary beneficiaries are children aged birth to 12 who have experienced abuse. However, it is directly relevant to this directory in several ways: GBV survivors who are seeking a registered Place of Safety for their children while they stabilise their own situation; mothers in crisis shelters whose children require separate therapeutic care; and survivors with children who have experienced sexual, physical, or mental abuse and require specialist residential placement in Limpopo. Contact: 014 736 3153 or info@tekna.co.za.

Huis Tekna: 47 Reitz Street, Bela-Bela, Limpopo. Phone: 014 736 3153. Email: info@tekna.co.za. Website: tekna.co.za. Founded September 1997. DSD-registered Place of Safety and Children's Home. Capacity: 46 children, birth–12 years.