The Westcliff is actively involved with three local charities, as well as the Hotels Housing Trust which funds house-building projects across the country. The three local charities viz. The Hope School for Physically Disabled Children, The Princess Alice Adoption Home and the Zoo Lake Users Committee have a close physical and working relationship with the hotel as they are neighbours of The Westcliff. 

The Hope School for Physically Disabled Children is situated next door to the hotel. Built in the early 1900’s, it is a historic Sir Herbert Baker designed building which was donated to the city as a Convalescent Home by one of the city’s first Randlords, Raymond Schumacher. The Home still operates today as The Hope School for Physically Disabled Children.

The Princess Alice Adoption Home was founded in 1930 and is also located alongside the hotel on the Westcliff Ridge. It was founded by Princess Alice, one of Queen Victoria’s grandchildren. Princess Alice came to South Africa when she married the Count of Athlone, who became the Governor General of the Cape. Today the home is run by the Johannesburg Child Welfare Society and is open to orphaned babies of all races and cultures.

The Zoo Lake Users Committee is a non-profit organisation raising funds for the upkeep of Zoo Lake. Zoo Lake was given to the citizens of Johannesburg  in 1906 with strict instructions for it to be used as a public park to be enjoyed by all the peoples of Joburg and thus it has managed to escape the ravages of apartheid.  Zoo Lake is widely recognised as Joburg’s most frequented natural public space with music concerts, Carols by Candlelight and art exhibitions taking place throughout the year.

The Westcliff also supports the Hotels Housing Trust which loans money donated by hotel guests to housing projects for the homeless. The Hotels  Housing Trust currently supports the internationally acclaimed Habitat for Humanity project which enables local and international volunteers to help construct simple houses for South Africans who have previously lacked decent shelter for their families.

Environmental Programme

The Westcliff currently enjoys Silver Status with the Heritage Environmental Management programme.  This programme evaluates environmental and social impacts of businesses, including compliance levels in Purchasing and Procurement, Business Partnerships, Design and Construction, Transport, Resource Management Systems, Fauna and Flora, Communications and Marketing, Community Involvement and Overall Environmental Sustainability.

The Westcliff’s Silver Status is testimony to the hotel’s “above industry standards” commitment to the principles of environmental and social responsibility.

The Westcliff will be starting its own Worm Farm Vermiculture Project in 2008 (the same as The Mount Nelson). All leftover food scraps and organic matter from the hotel will be fed to these special earthworms which they  process into the finest fertiliser known as “worm tea”. Therefore instead of being waste, the leftover food it will be recycled to benefit the earth.

The Westcliff is replacing all candescent globes with energy-saving bulbs. The hotel has also upgraded the heater pumps for all four swimming pools on the estate with the latest technology, thus making them more ecologically friendly by consuming less energy and reducing our carbon footprint. 


For further information on The Westcliff's Social and Environmental Programme please contact Gabrielle Palmer on (011) 481 6030 or e-mailGpalmer@westcliff.co.za

Nombuso Moloi started at The Westcliff as a banqueting waitress before she was chosen to take part in the programme. Nombuso would like to become an Accountant at The Westcliff. Reginald Phamodi started as a banqueting waiter before joining the programme. Reggie is motivated by those who have succeeded in life. He believes he can achieve success through Discipline, Dedication and Love towards the people with whom you are living and working. Reggie would like to become Human Resources Manager one day. Bheki Ndlovu says: “Working for The Westcliff has been my channel for empowerment and development. I started as a waiter in 2000 and was then promoted to in-room dining supervisor before being selected to join the Hospitality Management Training Programme. The programme has given me a wider choice of what I would like to follow in the hospitality industry. So far I love accounts. It is an excellent programme to maintain the high service standards set for the hotel”.