Johannesburg, 01 October 2026: South African biotechnology company Biodx is supporting the Frida Hartley Shelter in Yeoville, Johannesburg, beginning a relationship between two organisations that, in very different ways, were ahead of their time.
The Frida Hartley Shelter was established in 1922 as a home for unmarried mothers, at a time when women in that position faced deep social stigma and very little support. More than a century later, it continues to provide a place of safety for women and children facing homelessness, trauma, abuse, job loss and other circumstances that have left them with nowhere else to turn.
Biodx’s own journey has also been shaped by a willingness to challenge accepted thinking. The company has spent years researching and developing biotechnology-based biocidal solutions using natural citrus extracts, offering an alternative to harsh conventional chemicals in applications including disinfectant formulation and water treatment. Its technologies are designed to deliver strong antimicrobial performance while reducing dependence on conventional chemistry.
For Biodx CEO Burt Rodrigues, the connection between the two organisations lies in their shared belief that difficult circumstances should not determine what comes next.
“Frida Hartley was created at a time when supporting unmarried mothers went against the norm of the day,” says Rodrigues. “The organisation saw people who had been judged or overlooked and chose to give them safety, dignity and another chance. Biodx understands what it means to challenge convention and keep going because you believe there is a better way.”
The shelter currently accommodates 25 women and 18 children. Residents generally stay for between three and 18 months, during which they are expected to take part in the daily running of the shelter while receiving practical support to prepare them for independent life.
Before leaving, residents are equipped with basic computer and financial literacy skills to help them find work and support themselves.
“The purpose of the shelter is to help women regain their footing and leave with the confidence and practical skills to stand on their own,” says Centre Manager Cheryl Hlabane. “The women contribute to life at the shelter, learn from one another and take responsibility for the community they are part of. We have seen former residents go on to build careers and study at university.”
One young woman has gone on to work as a chef in Sandton. Two are studying accounting at the University of Cape Town, while another is pursuing a BSc in project management. The shelter also has a beauty centre and computer centre where residents share skills and teach one another.
For Biodx, collaboration is central to the relationship. The shelter depends on staff, donors, volunteers and community partners, while Biodx’s own development has required researchers, scientific institutions, funders and clients willing to test and support new technology.
“An organisation can have a strong purpose, but it still needs people who are prepared to stand behind it,” says Rodrigues. “Collaboration turns good intent into something that can be sustained.”
The shelter’s contribution also extends into the wider Yeoville community.
Every Friday, it provides lunch to between 300 and 500 homeless people from Yeoville and surrounding areas, with residents who are not at work or school assisting with cooking and serving. Each morning, the shelter also prepares sandwiches for local schoolchildren who do not have food to take to school.
“Frida Hartley may be called a shelter, but its role in the community is much wider,” says Hlabane. “We respond to people who need somewhere safe, but we also feed children, support homeless people and step into situations of abuse before they become worse. Every contribution helps us continue doing that work.”
The shelter receives no government funding and depends on fundraising and donations. It welcomes financial contributions, clothing, furniture, groceries, toiletries, books and toys. Items that cannot be used directly are sold within the community, with the proceeds returned to the shelter.
For Biodx, supporting Frida Hartley is about recognising an organisation whose work reflects the same values the company seeks to live by: persistence, courage and the belief that better outcomes are possible when people choose to work together.
“Both organisations began with an idea that challenged what was accepted at the time,” concludes Rodrigues. “Frida Hartley believed women deserved dignity and opportunity when society was often prepared to turn away. Biodx believed science could offer safer and more sustainable ways of protecting people and the environment. Our work is different, but the principle is the same. Change begins when someone is prepared to see possibility where others see a problem.”
