Jabulani Staff
ASANDA JONGA – ARV COUNSELLOR
Asanda joined the Jabulani team in 2009 as a seventeen year old volunteer fresh from finishing her Matric and is now employed as one of our ARV Counsellors. Asanda is hoping to go to university next year to study a healthcare related subject, either in PE or Cape Town. Beyond that, she would love to travel abroad and certainly has enough offers of places to stay from numerous international volunteer friends who have worked at Jabulani during her time here.
Asanda joined the Jabulani team in 2009 as a seventeen year old volunteer fresh from finishing her Matric and is now employed as one of our ARV Counsellors. Asanda is hoping to go to university next year to study a healthcare related subject, either in PE or Cape Town. Beyond that, she would love to travel abroad and certainly has enough offers of places to stay from numerous international volunteer friends who have worked at Jabulani during her time here.
ATHINI MBONO – ARV COUNSELLOR
Athini is originally from Libode, but has now moved to Zithulele to work for the ARV programme as a Counsellor. Athini always brings a big smile and a positive spirit to the hospital, where she has been employed since 2008. Athini is patient and in her free hours she usually reads the Bible or spends time with her daughter. Athini’s last name, Mbono, is isiXhosa for bellybutton.
Athini is originally from Libode, but has now moved to Zithulele to work for the ARV programme as a Counsellor. Athini always brings a big smile and a positive spirit to the hospital, where she has been employed since 2008. Athini is patient and in her free hours she usually reads the Bible or spends time with her daughter. Athini’s last name, Mbono, is isiXhosa for bellybutton.
BUYISWA SPEELMAN – PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Originally from Mdantsane, East London, Buyiswa has been employed by Jabulani since September 2010 as Dr. Gaunt’s Personal Assistant. Buyiswa describes herself as shy, liking to spend time in church, reading or listening to gospel music. Buyiswa’s greatest craving is chocolate.
Originally from Mdantsane, East London, Buyiswa has been employed by Jabulani since September 2010 as Dr. Gaunt’s Personal Assistant. Buyiswa describes herself as shy, liking to spend time in church, reading or listening to gospel music. Buyiswa’s greatest craving is chocolate.
JOHN YOUNG - VOLUNTEER
John joined the team as General Manager in January 2011. Originally from Cape Town, has been living in Scotland for the last four years where he worked in the financial department of NGO Mercy Corps, studied theology, and completed an internship programme with the Almond Vineyard church. Now John and his wife Cath, the new HIV / TB Programme Manager in Zithulele Hospital, are back in their home country and plan to be in Zithulele for a minimum of 3 years, with the possibility of staying longer.
John joined the team as General Manager in January 2011. Originally from Cape Town, has been living in Scotland for the last four years where he worked in the financial department of NGO Mercy Corps, studied theology, and completed an internship programme with the Almond Vineyard church. Now John and his wife Cath, the new HIV / TB Programme Manager in Zithulele Hospital, are back in their home country and plan to be in Zithulele for a minimum of 3 years, with the possibility of staying longer.
MUTE QOBINKETE – TRANSLATOR
Mute is a true Zithulelean; born and raised here and now working at the hospital as a Translator. Mute is the oldest of his four siblings and has a passion for all kinds of sports: watching cricket, soccer or competing in wheelchair basketball, which he can’t get enough of. Mute has a great sense of humour, saying that if he was stranded on a deserted island he would bring a boat to take him home.
Mute is a true Zithulelean; born and raised here and now working at the hospital as a Translator. Mute is the oldest of his four siblings and has a passion for all kinds of sports: watching cricket, soccer or competing in wheelchair basketball, which he can’t get enough of. Mute has a great sense of humour, saying that if he was stranded on a deserted island he would bring a boat to take him home.
NELISWA BANJWA – TRANSLATOR
With the biggest smile, Neliswa fits in well in the Speech Therapy department where she works as a Translator. Neliswa’s favourite food is pap and in her spare time she likes to watch soapies, read magazines, listen to R&B and, of course, spend time with her daughter.
With the biggest smile, Neliswa fits in well in the Speech Therapy department where she works as a Translator. Neliswa’s favourite food is pap and in her spare time she likes to watch soapies, read magazines, listen to R&B and, of course, spend time with her daughter.
NONCEBA NDESI – TRANSLATOR
Nonceba joined the team of translators working at Zithulele Hospital in September 2010. She likes to play netball and listen to gospel music, her favourite artist being Veliswa Sikeyi. Her favourite thing is to spend a Sunday afternoon with her two children and the rest of her family
Nonceba joined the team of translators working at Zithulele Hospital in September 2010. She likes to play netball and listen to gospel music, her favourite artist being Veliswa Sikeyi. Her favourite thing is to spend a Sunday afternoon with her two children and the rest of her family
NONYANISO MDANISWA – CLEANER / COOK
Nonyaniso is the Cleaner and Cook for the Zithulele Pre-school providing nutritious meals for the children each day. She has a large family of her own, including Cape Town volunteer Carla, who is living with her family for the duration of her stay. Nonyaniso is incredibly friendly, craves coffee, has a great passion for sewing, and a particular talent for the card game ‘spoons’.
Nonyaniso is the Cleaner and Cook for the Zithulele Pre-school providing nutritious meals for the children each day. She has a large family of her own, including Cape Town volunteer Carla, who is living with her family for the duration of her stay. Nonyaniso is incredibly friendly, craves coffee, has a great passion for sewing, and a particular talent for the card game ‘spoons’.
NOTHANDEKILE VALUVALU – MASIKHULE MONITOR
Nothandekile is the most ‘green fingered’ person you will ever meet and so was the perfect choice for the Masikhule Garden Project. Nothandekile educates the local community about how to grow vegetables and cook nutritiously by running a demonstration garden near Zithulele. Notandekile has plenty of experience as her own garden is the only one in the area with a greenhouse where she grows her own fruit and vegetables to feed her eight children.
Nothandekile is the most ‘green fingered’ person you will ever meet and so was the perfect choice for the Masikhule Garden Project. Nothandekile educates the local community about how to grow vegetables and cook nutritiously by running a demonstration garden near Zithulele. Notandekile has plenty of experience as her own garden is the only one in the area with a greenhouse where she grows her own fruit and vegetables to feed her eight children.
NTOMBIFUTHI MFUNDISI – TRANSLATOR
Joining Jabulani as a Translator in September 2010, the multi-skilled Ntombifuthi has a diploma in Travel and Tourism from MSC College in Mthatha. She still lives in her birthplace of Mqanduli, meaning an hour taxi ride to work every day. She has a four year old son, likes to be kept informed of current affairs and loves listening to R&B.
Joining Jabulani as a Translator in September 2010, the multi-skilled Ntombifuthi has a diploma in Travel and Tourism from MSC College in Mthatha. She still lives in her birthplace of Mqanduli, meaning an hour taxi ride to work every day. She has a four year old son, likes to be kept informed of current affairs and loves listening to R&B.
NTSINDISO MKHONTWANA – TRANSLATOR
Ntsindiso has been employed as a Translator in the hospital since the beginning of December 2010, moving from his previous job in a mine outside of Jo’burg. Ntsindiso loves yoghurt, likes to listen to music, and play soccer during his free hours. He also has hidden hairdressing talent from time working in a hair salon.
Ntsindiso has been employed as a Translator in the hospital since the beginning of December 2010, moving from his previous job in a mine outside of Jo’burg. Ntsindiso loves yoghurt, likes to listen to music, and play soccer during his free hours. He also has hidden hairdressing talent from time working in a hair salon.
PHUMLA TSAMA – TRANSLATOR
Phumla has worked as a Translator since October 2010 and learnt her English five minutes down the road at Sea View school. Phumla is perfectly suited to the beautiful coastline around Zithulele as she loves walking and traveling. She also likes pop music, singling James Blunt out for particular praise.
Phumla has worked as a Translator since October 2010 and learnt her English five minutes down the road at Sea View school. Phumla is perfectly suited to the beautiful coastline around Zithulele as she loves walking and traveling. She also likes pop music, singling James Blunt out for particular praise.
RICHARD MCUNUKELWA – COMMUNITY LIAISON Richard’s role, as our Community Liaison, is to act as a bridge between Jabulani and the local community with a view to helping guide Jabulani towards being a fully community based project; run by and for the community. Richard is well placed to do this with a background in politics helping him to work with the councillors from the two wards that Zithulele straddles. Richard is a former paratrooper from the 44th Paratrooper brigade based in Port St Johns and Bloemfontein, he describes his first jump as terrifying. Since then, he’s had 5 sons and lives with them and his wife back in his birthplace, Zithulele.
SIPHOKAZI HLALAPHI – ADMINISTRATOR
Originally from nearby Mqanduli, Siphokazi is Jabulani’s chief Administrator and deals with everything from distributing keys to budgeting for building works. Siphokazi is a married mother of four, whilst also studying for a correspondence course in administration at UNISA. Interestingly, despite accounting being a big part of her job, Siphokazi hates counting…and maths in general.
Originally from nearby Mqanduli, Siphokazi is Jabulani’s chief Administrator and deals with everything from distributing keys to budgeting for building works. Siphokazi is a married mother of four, whilst also studying for a correspondence course in administration at UNISA. Interestingly, despite accounting being a big part of her job, Siphokazi hates counting…and maths in general.
THANDEKA XHAKAZA – PRE-SCHOOL TEACHER
Thandeka has been the teacher at Zithulele Pre-school since 2008 and is a complete natural. She is wonderful story-teller and has no problem keeping the children’s attention during class. Thandeka has five children of her own and likes listening to gospel music and braaing with her friends.
Thandeka has been the teacher at Zithulele Pre-school since 2008 and is a complete natural. She is wonderful story-teller and has no problem keeping the children’s attention during class. Thandeka has five children of her own and likes listening to gospel music and braaing with her friends.
THANDIWE MHLABA – TB COUNSELLOR
Thandiwe’s job as TB counsellor is to train newly diagnosed patients about why, how and when they should take their drugs. It is therefore a crucial role to help slow the spread of MDR and XDR TB. Thandiwe is married with three children and lives near the beautiful Mncwasa beach. In her free time she enjoys cooking and singing, and is part of a hospital choir that sings in the evenings to long term ward patients.
Thandiwe’s job as TB counsellor is to train newly diagnosed patients about why, how and when they should take their drugs. It is therefore a crucial role to help slow the spread of MDR and XDR TB. Thandiwe is married with three children and lives near the beautiful Mncwasa beach. In her free time she enjoys cooking and singing, and is part of a hospital choir that sings in the evenings to long term ward patients.
UNATHI TWALIKULU – TRANSLATOR
Unathi has been a Translator at Zithulele Hospital since September 2010. She is originally from Twalikulu, where she has five sisters. She likes to read and her ideal Saturday afternoon would be spent curled up at home reading a good book.
Unathi has been a Translator at Zithulele Hospital since September 2010. She is originally from Twalikulu, where she has five sisters. She likes to read and her ideal Saturday afternoon would be spent curled up at home reading a good book.
VUYISWA MCUNUKELWA – TRANSLATOR
Joining the team in June 2011, Vuyiswa is Jabulani’s newest Translator. Originally from Zithulele, she’s spent much of her life in Mthatha, where she’s worked in the telephone industry and studied business economics. She has returned to Zithulele to look after her mother and her daughter attends the Jabulani pre-school. Her enjoyment of gospel and R&B music will see her fit in well with the other translators.
Joining the team in June 2011, Vuyiswa is Jabulani’s newest Translator. Originally from Zithulele, she’s spent much of her life in Mthatha, where she’s worked in the telephone industry and studied business economics. She has returned to Zithulele to look after her mother and her daughter attends the Jabulani pre-school. Her enjoyment of gospel and R&B music will see her fit in well with the other translators.
YOLISA DULEY – EDUCATION COORDINATOR
Yolisa, an expert in Early Childhood Development, is currently in Zithulele to conduct her PhD research and will kindly be volunteering her services as Jabulani’s Education Co-ordinator for the duration of her stay. She primarily works with Thandeka at the Pre-school, using her experience and training in Montessori education as well as being a vital extra pair of hands, eyes, ears and whatever else happens to come in handy when looking after four year olds. She started in March 2011 and will be staying for a year before returning to her home in Hawaii.
Yolisa, an expert in Early Childhood Development, is currently in Zithulele to conduct her PhD research and will kindly be volunteering her services as Jabulani’s Education Co-ordinator for the duration of her stay. She primarily works with Thandeka at the Pre-school, using her experience and training in Montessori education as well as being a vital extra pair of hands, eyes, ears and whatever else happens to come in handy when looking after four year olds. She started in March 2011 and will be staying for a year before returning to her home in Hawaii.
1000 from a 1000 Challenge
On this page you have been introduced to our staff and volunteers but a major challenge is accommodating all of these people. Many of them are from Zithulele and so do have homes but those who have come in from outside of Zithulele really struggle for accommodation. You can help by finding out more about our new accommodation initiative the '1000 from a 1000 challenge' (by clicking here).
