Jabulani Staff
The Jabulani staff team continues to grow and now boasts a complement of over 30 hardworking, caring staff.
Please click on the following links for short profiles on each staff members in our different focus areas:
- Foundation Administration
- Healthcare
- Education
The Jabulani staff team continues to grow and now boasts a complement of over 30 hardworking, caring staff.
Please click on the following links for short profiles on each staff members in our different focus areas:
- Foundation Administration
- Healthcare
- Education
Foundation Administration
JOHN YOUNG - GENERAL MANAGER
John joined the team as General Manager in January 2011. Originally from Cape Town, before joining Jabulani John lived in Scotland for 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. John is married to Cath, the HIV/TB Programme Manager in Zithulele Hospital, are the recent father of Calum.
John joined the team as General Manager in January 2011. Originally from Cape Town, before joining Jabulani John lived in Scotland for 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. John is married to Cath, the HIV/TB Programme Manager in Zithulele Hospital, are the recent father of Calum.
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 government 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.
LIAAN MARAIS - BUILDING SERVICES MANAGER
Healthcare Projects
ASANDA JONGA – MERCY VISION ADMINISTRATOR
Asanda joined the Jabulani team in 2009 as a seventeen year old volunteer fresh from finishing her Matric. After excelling as an ARV Counsellor, Asanda is now working with the Mercy Vision Project, helping administer the project. Excitingly, as training for that role, she travelled to Guinea (in West Africa) in early 2013 to gain experience in Mercy Ships' work there. Asanda still has plans to go to university one day to study social work, and to travel further abroad - and she certainly has enough accommodation offers from international volunteer friends who have worked at Jabulani during her time here!
BUYISWA SPEELMAN – TB DATA MANAGER
Originally from Mdantsane, East London, Buyiswa has been employed by Jabulani since September 2010. She first worked as as the Personal Assistant to Zithulele's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ben Gaunt, and now works as the TB Data Manager. 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. She first worked as as the Personal Assistant to Zithulele's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ben Gaunt, and now works as the TB Data Manager. Buyiswa describes herself as shy, liking to spend time in church, reading or listening to gospel music. Buyiswa’s greatest craving is chocolate.
PHUMLA TSAMA – ARV COUNSELLOR
Phumla is another one of our staff who has been promoted within the organisation. A Zithulele local, she began work as a Translator in October 2010 and now works as an ARV Counsellor. 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 is another one of our staff who has been promoted within the organisation. A Zithulele local, she began work as a Translator in October 2010 and now works as an ARV Counsellor. 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.
NTOMBIFUTHI MFUNDISI – PHARMACY HELPER
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 has now been promoted to Pharmacy Helper, assisting in the vital work in the Hospital's Pharmacy Department. 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 has now been promoted to Pharmacy Helper, assisting in the vital work in the Hospital's Pharmacy Department. 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.
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 drug-resistant (MDR and XDR) TB. Thandiwe is married with three children and lives close to our nearby 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 drug-resistant (MDR and XDR) TB. Thandiwe is married with three children and lives close to our nearby 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.
NONCEBA NDESI – PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Nonceba is one of our success stories. She joined the team of translators working at Zithulele Hospital in September 2010. As a good-natured, hard-working and caring employee she was successful in her application to be promoted to the role of Personal Assistant to the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ben Gaunt. 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 is one of our success stories. She joined the team of translators working at Zithulele Hospital in September 2010. As a good-natured, hard-working and caring employee she was successful in her application to be promoted to the role of Personal Assistant to the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ben Gaunt. 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.
FUNDISWA MBONGWANA - PHARMACY HELPER
Fundiswa is from Zithulele, born and raised just a stone’s throw from the hospital entrance gates. In early 2011 she approached Jabulani with a most unusual request, to volunteer for free - and the rest is history really! She began volunteering in the library and preschool, was then awarded a paid position as a translator in the Therapy Department, and then as a Pharmacy Helper. She is currently studying to become a Pharmacy Assistant. Humble but passionate, Fundiswa says she wants to stay in Zithulele to serve her community.
Fundiswa is from Zithulele, born and raised just a stone’s throw from the hospital entrance gates. In early 2011 she approached Jabulani with a most unusual request, to volunteer for free - and the rest is history really! She began volunteering in the library and preschool, was then awarded a paid position as a translator in the Therapy Department, and then as a Pharmacy Helper. She is currently studying to become a Pharmacy Assistant. Humble but passionate, Fundiswa says she wants to stay in Zithulele to serve her community.
UNATHI TWALIKULU – OPTOMETRY ASSISTANT
Originally from Twalikulu, where she has five sisters. Unathi also began work with Jabulani as a Translator, in September 2010. She is now working as an Optometry Assistant with the Mercy Vision Project. Her ideal Saturday afternoon would be spent curled up at home reading a good book.
Originally from Twalikulu, where she has five sisters. Unathi also began work with Jabulani as a Translator, in September 2010. She is now working as an Optometry Assistant with the Mercy Vision Project. Her ideal Saturday afternoon would be spent curled up at home reading a good book.
MANDINI LUGALO - OPTOMETRY ASSISTANT
ALTHEA LE ROUX – OPHTHALMIC MEDICAL OFFICER
Althea performs Cataract and other eye surgery in the Mercy Vision programme. She is married to Zithulele Hospital doctor Simon, and the proud mother of Nils.
Althea performs Cataract and other eye surgery in the Mercy Vision programme. She is married to Zithulele Hospital doctor Simon, and the proud mother of Nils.
TRANSLATORS
The translators provide the vital service of enabling professionals in the Hospital to communicate effectively with patients. Our current translators are:
The translators provide the vital service of enabling professionals in the Hospital to communicate effectively with patients. Our current translators are:
NOMONDE SICENGU
- SPEECH THERAPY DEPARTMENT 
VUYISWA MCUNUKELWA
- OUTPATIENTS' DEPARTMENT |
FUNEKA XABE
- OUTPATIENTS' DEPARTMENT 
XOLILE CALENI
- OUTPATIENTS' DEPARTMENT |
LINDEKA MBANGA
- DIETETICS DEPARTMENT 
LULAMILE DANILE
- OUTPATIENTS' DEPARTMENT |
Education Projects
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.
NONYANISO MDANISWA – CLEANER / COOK
Nonyaniso is the Cleaner and Cook for the Zithulele Pre-school providing nutritious meals for the children each day. Nonyaniso has a large family of her own, 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. Nonyaniso has a large family of her own, 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.
MANDISA "MBASA" MAHLANZA – ECD ADVOCATE
PUMZA MATEBESE - LIBRARIAN
YANDISWA "SIWE" MAHLANYANA – UPPER LUBANZI PRESCHOOL TEACHER
Community Development Projects
ROGER GALLOWAY
LWANDO SONTSHALABA - CARPENTRY APPRENTICE
SANDI TSHEMESE - CARPETNRY APPRENTICE
Please consider donating to help fund the work of this fantastic, growing team.