Since extending its services to the uMkhanyakude district two years ago, LifeLine Zululand has made tremendous headway, establishing a ‘white door’ victim accommodation facility in KwaMsane and two crisis centres at Manguzi and Hlabisa hospitals, which offer counselling services, referrals for further interventions and community awareness programmes.

Creating awareness around gender-based violence, abuse of the elderly and others, as well as human trafficking, victim empowerment is a vital part of the strategy to engage with community members to help them make informed decisions.

According to LifeLine Zululand director Michelle Jewlal, there are 11 sites based at SAPS victim friendly rooms in KwaMsane, Mtubatuba, Hlabisa, Ezibayeni, Hluhluwe, Mkhuze, Jozini, Ingwavuma, Ndumo, Mbazwane and Manguzi.

Programme co-ordinator Nompilo Maphumulo says their crisis centres at the hospitals mainly focus on rape and sexual offence cases. When victims open a case at a police station they are taken to the hospital, attended to by a LifeLine counsellor and social worker before being referred to Department of Health stakeholders within the hospital for further services.

We have a ‘white door’ facility in KwaMsane which temporarily accommodates and provides abused women protection against secondary abuse.

‘As our work takes us deep into rural communities, we engage with traditional leaders to promote awareness and provide information to community members. Much of our groundwork includes dialogues, door-to-door visits and interacting with locals,’ Maphumulo says.

In many uMkhanyakude district communities we have to go door-to-door to educate residents about abuse.

Representatives also visit the courts and engage with victims of crime and violence and attend community meetings and awareness events to introduce LifeLine’s services and to offer support. The team also visits schools for awareness interventions.

Where to get help

Lifeline Zululand main office – 035 789 2472
LifeLine contact at Thuthuzela Care Centre – 081 443 4560
LifeLine South Africa national counselling line – 0861 322322
LifeLine South Africa hosted Stop Gender Violence toll–free 0800 150150
Department of Social Development 24 -hour call centre providing support and counselling to victims of gender based violence – 0800 428428.
Callers can also request a social worker from the command centre to contact them by dialling *120*7767# (free from any cellphone).

uMkhanyakude District

The LifeLine team based in the uMkhanyakude District consists of:

Mtubatuba SAPS

• Sinethemba Phakathi
• Snenhlanhla Mthembu

Msane SAPS

• Nomnotho Wela

Msane White Door

• Ntombintombi Hlatshwayo

Hlabisa Crisis Centre

• Thandeka Tembe
• Lungile Msimango

Hlabisa SAPS

• Lungile Mhlanzi
• Ntombenhle Ngcobo

Ezibayeni SAPS

• Phumzile Ndlanzi
• Thembekile Mhlongo

Hluhluwe SAPS

• Sinqobile Zibani
• Nomvula Thwala

Mkhuze SAPS

• Nompumelelo Khanyile

Jozini SAPS

• Nonzuzo Ntima
• Bongekile Ngiba

Ingwavuma SAPS

• Nozipho Nkabinde
• Sicelumusa Vilane

Ndumo SAPS

• Phindile Mpontshane
• Nothando Ndlovu

Mbazwane SAPS

• Duduzile Ndaba
• Gabisile Maphumulo

Manguzi Crisis Centre

• Anele Dladla
• Nombuso Biyela
• Ntando Mthethwa

Manguzi SAPS

• Simisiwe Zungu
• Phindile Mhlongo