Leratong Place of Love
OpenLeratong Place of Love Crisis Centre is a registered GBV shelter based at 31 Oppenheimer Circle, Selection Park, Springs, Gauteng (Ekurhuleni Metro), serving abused women, their children, and rape survivors on the East Rand. The Centre provides emergency and short-term residential accommodation for up to 21 women and children in a safe, supportive environment, with a focused programme of empowerment, life skills training, and women's rights education for residents and the broader Springs community. Its philosophy is rooted in the Methodist church tradition, and it draws its name — Leratong, meaning "place of love" in Sesotho — from its founding vision of a shelter that goes beyond basic safety to offer genuine care and human dignity. The Centre accepts referrals from SAPS, hospitals, social workers, and other organisations, and also accepts walk-in clients. Key services include safe residential accommodation, trauma support, legal and court referral assistance, skills development, life skills training for women (including general training on women's rights for residents and the community), and ongoing linkages to welfare and health services. The Centre is actively involved in disseminating information about women's rights and GBV in Springs schools and communities. Contact: 011 363 1368 / 011 363 1369 / 072 106 4983. Email: Leratong@methodist.co.za.
Contact & Location
- 31 Oppenheimer Cir, Selection Park, Springs, 1559, South Africa
Opening Hours
Opening hours not available. Contact the organisation directly.
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About
Safe Residential Shelter
Leratong provides emergency and short-term residential accommodation for up to 21 women and their children who are fleeing domestic violence, abuse, or sexual assault. The shelter model is about more than a bed and a roof: the Centre is committed to creating an environment that is safe, calm, and genuinely nurturing — a material contrast to the environments residents are escaping.
The Centre accepts residents from across the East Rand and, in urgent cases, from outside the area. There is no requirement for a case number or formal referral as a condition of entry — though referrals are welcomed from SAPS, hospitals, clinics, social workers, and other organisations.
Women's Empowerment and Life Skills
Leratong's programming recognises that shelter alone does not end abuse. While women are in residence, the Centre runs a life skills training programme, addressing the practical and psychological barriers that make it difficult for women to leave abusive situations for good: financial dependence, lack of qualifications, low self-worth, and limited knowledge of rights and legal options.
This includes general training on women's rights — for residents and for community members — as well as therapeutic and skills development components that help women build the foundations for independent living. The goal is not just to keep women safe during crisis, but to help them exit the cycle of abuse permanently.
Rape Survivor Support
The Centre provides specific support for rape survivors, assisting with access to medical care, evidence collection guidance, police reporting, and court referrals. In a town where dedicated rape crisis services may be limited, Leratong's ability to receive rape survivors directly makes it a critical safety net.
Schools and Community Outreach
Leratong actively takes information about women's rights and GBV into Springs schools and community settings — carrying out prevention and awareness work that extends the Centre's impact well beyond its walls. In communities where GBV is normalised, visible education about rights and consequences is a protective intervention in its own right.
Admission and Referrals
The Centre welcomes referrals from SAPS, hospitals, clinics, social workers, and community organisations. Walk-in clients are also accepted. Standard admission requirements apply (willingness to participate in programmes; no active substance abuse issues). Contact Claudette Westley directly for referrals or admissions queries.
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Last checked: 3 Mar 2026