Policy on the care of the mentally retarded

Abstract

South Africa has always been intensely aware of those members of its population who suffer from mental retardation. Special provision was made for them in the Mental Disorders Act, 1916, and because there was no known form of therapy, they together with mentally disordered patients, were placed under the administration of the Department of the Interior. The earliest institutions were in fact called “Training Schools” and it is apparent that children were trained and to a certain extent educated since these contained their own schools and vocational workshops.