For over 60 years, Oasis Association has relied on the generosity of its
donors to help our beneficiaries with intellectual disabilities live with dignity
and purpose.We cannot do it without you. They cannot do it without us.  
Gail Bester, Director, Oasis Association

 

National Wills Week 14–18 September 2026

Few acts are as meaningful as leaving a charitable bequest to Oasis Association or your favourite charity in your will, an investment in people and their future, ensuring your compassion continues well beyond your lifetime.

Charitable bequests are one of Oasis Association’s most critical sources of long-term funding, helping us plan ahead and sustain our programmes for years to come.

Your legacy gift can take the form of:

• A specific amount of money
• A percentage of your estate
• Property, shares or other assets

A simple act can have a profound and lasting impact, helping us create sustainable employment and provide safe and caring housing and specialised day care for children and adults with intellectual disabilities who need extra care.

The financial benefits of giving

A bequest to a registered public benefit organisation, such as Oasis Association (PBO 930006609), may qualify for tax and estate duty benefits, and donated assets may also qualify for capital gains tax relief. Your financial adviser or attorney can explain what applies to your circumstances.

Your gift goes where it matters most

By including Oasis Association in your will, you reach into the future and touch countless lives. Your legacy will live on through every beneficiary given the opportunity to work, belong and thrive.

Make your will count this ‘Wills Week’

During National Wills Week, from 14–18 September 2026, many participating attorneys offer free basic will-drafting services. Contact your attorney or legal adviser to take the first step towards a legacy that changes lives for generations to come.

For more information, please contact:
Gail Bester
Director, Oasis Association
Email: director@oasis.org.za

Did you know that Oasis offers a bulk shredding service for
confidential documents.

A Certificate of destruction is issued once shredding is complete.

Shredding process

• • • Done in an enclosed area.
    • Carried out by intellectually challenged beneficiaries.
    • No public access (to comply with POPIA regulations)

Charges

• • R6 per kg (depending on volume).
  • R250 collection fee (if collection is required).

No need to remove

• • Sleeves, paperclips, or staples or documents from files
    Oasis will handle it.

Should you need us to collect, we can arrange collection. Our collection times are as follows:

• • Monday to Friday: 10am – 1pm.
    R250 collection fee (if collection is required).

Invoice and payment

• • Invoice sent after collection and weighing.
  • Certificate of destruction issued after payment confirmation.

Please contact Beraldine recycling@oasis.org.za or call 021 671 2698 for more information.

Individual Drop-offs
(No charge for small volumes dropped off)

• Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 4:00pm
• Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00pm
• Drop-off location:
  Corner of Lee and Imam Haron Road, Claremont.

Please contact Beraldine recycling@oasis.org.za or call 021 671 2698 for more information.

If you need more information about our confidential paper shredding services please contact Beraldine at recycling@oasis.org.za

We did it! 🏆✨ Thanks to YOUR support, Oasis is officially the Best Thrift Shop in Cape Town!

We’re so proud to have won Best Thrift Shop in the Cape Tourism Awards 2025!

Thrifting has never been more exciting! Cape Town has become a hotspot for vintage gems, pre-loved treasures, and one-of a kind finds, and at Oasis, we’ve taken it to the next level.

Forget boring old thrift stores! Oasis Charity Shop in Claremont is a treasure hunter’s paradise! And the best part? By shopping at Oasis, you’re not just finding treasures, you’re empowering people with intellectual disabilities to live, work, and thrive in their community.

Best Thrift Shop in the Cape… that’s us! 🤩💚
Thanks for loving all things pre-loved! Sustainable style on a mission!

What makes the Oasis Charity Shops so special?

Oasis Charity Shop in Claremont is actually five shops connected, so get ready to spend some serious browsing  time. Everything here is pre-loved, and there’s a ton of cool stuff to explore:

• There’s a bric-a-brac section filled with unique homeware, trinkets, and vintage finds that will make your gran jealous.
• Fashion enthusiasts will be thrilled by the beautiful selection of clothing. Fashion lovers will fall in love with the fabulous clothes, sparkling jewellery, and stylish accessories waiting to be discovered, each piece with its own story and charm. You might even score a designer piece for next to nothing!
• Furniture and books are also well represented, so there’s something for everyone.

The staff are all super friendly and will happily help you on your shopping adventure.

And when you’ve found that perfect item, don’t forget to visit our on-site bakery for fresh muffins, Swiss rolls, or warm bread. Yum!

Oasis Charity Shops in Fish Hoek has levelled up with two fabulous shops — a book nook bursting with brilliant reads, and a bric-a-brac & vintage fashion shop filled with stunning,quirky, charming fashion finds. Come shop, explore, and treat yourself!

So, ditch the usual stores and head to one of the Oasis Charity Shops in Cape Town. You’ll have a blast hunting for treasures, and your good vibes will help people with intellectual disabilities.

It’s a win-win! So pop in!

Oasis Charity Shops Claremont

📍 Corner of Lee and Imam Haron Road, Claremont
🕰️ Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 4pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

Or pop into our Fish Hoek Charity shop

📍 Somerset House, 6 Recreation Road, Fish Hoek
🕰️ Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 4pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

With heartfelt gratitude to Cape Tourism, Africa Works, and all the generous sponsors for this incredible initiative honouring Cape Town’s Charity Shops, your recognition means the world to us.

https://www.capetourism.com/award-category/gold/

https://www.capetourism.com/thrift-stores-in-cape-town/

https://www.africaworks.co/

The Chair’s Report reflects a year of resilience, gratitude, and meaningful progress for Oasis, despite the deep loss of our beloved President, Rosemary de Waal.

The period saw strengthened governance, renewed staffing capacity, vital donor-funded improvements to our transport fleet and properties, expanded partnerships, and significant developments such as wage subsidies for 110 workshop workers.

Our day centres, houses, adult groups and protective workshops all continued to advance opportunities and dignity for people with intellectual disabilities, thanks to the unwavering dedication of our staff, volunteers, donors, and partners.

Together, we move forward with renewed purpose as we continue building hope, opportunity, and a more inclusive community for all.

Click here to read the Full Annual Report 2024/2025 

Click here to view the Annual Financial Statements

Nestled in the heart of Claremont, Oasis Charity Shops has earned its place as a nominee for the community’s Best Thrift Shop — not only for its unbeatable deals and quality finds but also for the heart and purpose behind every sale.

Step through the doors and you’re met with more than just shelves of affordable books, clothing, homeware, and vintage treasures. You’re stepping into a space driven by compassion and social impact.

Every purchase made directly supports the Oasis Association, which provides care and opportunities to intellectually disabled individuals. It’s a place where everyday shopping becomes a powerful act of giving.

Oasis Claremont stands out for its welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff, and thoughtfully curated stock. Shoppers return time and again for the thrill of thrifting — whether searching for a good book on a rainy day, revamping a wardrobe sustainably, or picking up unique décor pieces. New items are donated regularly, keeping the shelves vibrant and full of surprises.

And let’s not forget the mouthwatering selection of home-baked goods, including fresh breads and their legendary shortbread biscuits — a treat that keeps customers coming back for more.

The Oasis Charity Shops are also deeply embedded in the Claremont and Fish Hoek communities. Locals donate generously, knowing their preloved items will be appreciated by others and benefit a greater cause. The staff know their regulars by name, creating a warm, familiar, and inclusive environment.

What truly sets the Oasis Charity Shops apart is their blend of purpose and personality. It’s a place where you can find a bargain, make a difference, and feel at home — all in one visit.

In a world of fast fashion and faceless retail, Oasis offers something real: community, sustainability, and soul.

Oasis Charity Shops Claremont
Our charming Claremont village of shops.
Corner of Lee and Imam Haron Road, Claremont.

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 4pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00 pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Oasis Charity Shops Fish Hoek
Somerset House,
6 Recreation Road, Fish Hoek.

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am- 4pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Thank you for your continued support.

Oasis Charity Shops are proud to celebrate Second Hand September alongside other thrift champions across Cape Town! At the same time, the Oasis Association — providing opportunities to people with intellectual disabilities — salutes every generous soul who donates stock to our shops in Claremont, Fish Hoek, and Elsies River. 💚

Founded by Oxfam UK in 2019, Second Hand September has become a global movement that encourages us all to pause, reflect, and rethink our choices. It’s all about the circular economy: giving preloved items a new lease of life while reducing landfill waste caused by fast fashion and throw-away culture.

✨ Here’s the truth: our homes are often overflowing with things we don’t want, need, or use. By donating them to a charity shop, you can transform “clutter” into life-changing opportunities for others.

And Oasis is living proof of that impact. Recently nominated for a Cape Tourism Best Thrift Shop Award, our shops are often described as “a happy place” — where customers relax in Claremont’s tea garden over scones and legendary shortbread, browse shelves bursting with bargains, discover vintage treasures, or pick up functional items and freshly baked bread.

Executive Director, Gail Bester, sums it up perfectly:

“It is so important that every charity shop in Cape Town receives
public support. We are all doing our best to support the beneficiaries
of our varied work. At Oasis, just one clean, up-to-date book can pay for someone’s seat on our daily passenger buses and kombis.”

 

So this Second Hand September, let’s shop with purpose, declutter with heart, and keep the circle of giving alive. 🌸♻️

Shop Oasis.
Shop happiness.
Shop second hand.

📍 Oasis Charity Shops Claremont
Our charming Claremont village of shops.
Corner of Lee and Imam Haron Road, Claremont.
⏰ Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 4pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00 pm
✖️ Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

📍 Oasis Charity Shops Fish Hoek
Somerset House,
6 Recreation Road, Fish Hoek.
⏰ Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am- 4pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00pm
✖️ Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Thank you for your continued support.

It is with great sorrow I inform you that Rosemary de Waal, our much loved and respected Honorary President and long-standing member of the Oasis Association Board of Management, passed away on Tuesday 28 January 2025.  On behalf of the Oasis community, I send condolences to her family, circle of friends and all who worked with her.

Rosemary’s work with Oasis has left a considerable legacy in the field of intellectual disability.  Almost four decades ago, she played a key role as a social worker at an Oasis centre in Elsies River. As a volunteer in subsequent years, she served on numerous Oasis committees and was involved in developing day care centres in Ravensmead and Delft; group homes in Kenwyn, Claremont and Ruyterwacht and the current protective workshop in Elsies River.

Her unswerving loyalty to people with intellectual disability is best illustrated by many years of serving on the Board. She held various offices – Chair, Vice-chair, Trustee and signatory.  At the time of Rosemary’s passing, she was a member of the Board elected sub- committee working on the housing needs of ageing residents.

Rosemary was a volunteer extraordinaire. Oasis wasn’t the only beneficiary of her generosity, which to name some, embraced education, social housing, early childhood development, and intellectual disability. She invested resources, unusual time commitments and broad expertise in contributing to the development of sustainable, caring environments. In these contexts, her work was characterized by empathy, hope, humility and a commitment to ensuring the rights and dignity of vulnerable people.

She was an unassuming, quiet hero, who made an immeasurable contribution to improving the lives of so many.

 

Rosemary was also a valued colleague, mentor and friend to me. Over the years, we often met in my office garden, drinking copious cups of coffee and laughing at ourselves while we tried to solve the imponderables that life presented to us.

She had a lovely sense of humour, a sharp mind which would cut to the chase and above all, a heart which cared deeply for others.

Gail Bester
Executive Director