1905 – Rondebosch Social Farm
In 1905, the Cape Town City Council asked The Salvation Army to help address a growing problem: released Pollsmoor prisoners with no skills were returning to crime. The Council provided land in Rondebosch, and The Salvation Army established a farm-based skills programme.
Agriculture was chosen because South Africa was still young and developing, with vast tracts of land available. The farm flourished, and by its closure in 1943 it could house 120 men. Over time, it became clear that many former prisoners also struggled with alcohol addiction. A basic rehabilitation programme was introduced—laying the foundation for the structured treatment offered today.
1947 – Move to Muldersvlei
By 1947, urban growth forced the City Council to reclaim the Rondebosch land. The Salvation Army, led by Superintendent Captain Hesketh King, searched for a new site and secured land at Muldersvlei near Stellenbosch.
The move was challenging. Without trucks or rail, staff and patients walked with animals and equipment to the new site, sleeping in the bush along the way. Tents offered rough shelter until a barn and cottages could be built. Captain King soon raised funds for better accommodation, and later that year the programme officially reopened at Muldersvlei.
The farm grew into a respected operation, gaining recognition in both dairy and pig farming while continuing its rehabilitation work.
1993 – Transition and Farm Sale
By 1993, a decision was made to focus fully on rehabilitation rather than farming. The farm was sold in 1996, leaving the Centre with 4.5 hectares of land dedicated to treatment.
Evolving Names
The Centre’s name has changed over time:
- Muldersvlei Rehabilitation Centre – its original title.
- Crossroads – reflecting both the life decisions faced by patients and its location at a road junction between Paarl and Stellenbosch. However, confusion arose during political unrest when international media reports on violence in Cape Town’s Crossroads settlement were mistaken as relating to the Centre.
- Hope Acres – introduced but never widely accepted.
- Hesketh King Treatment Centre – adopted in September 1996 to honour Captain Hesketh King, whose leadership was vital in the Centre’s establishment and growth.