LifeLine Zululand continues to increase its footprint in Zululand district’s rural communities.

LifeLine Zululand has established service sites at 15 police stations in the region and deployed 25 social workers on the ground, who render counselling and psycho-social services, and also create awareness on gender-based violence and social ills.

Educating communities and attending to victims of crime, trauma and domestic violence, social and auxiliary workers have formed relationships by conducting door-to-door visits, and awareness campaigns to promote their services.

LifeLine Zululand Director, Michelle Jewlal, said one of the focus areas is gender-based violence.

LifeLine provides free psycho-social support, counselling, trauma debriefing and containment through the victim empowerment programme at Thuthuzela Care Centre and other crisis centres, while victims are accommodated at ‘white door shelter’ facilities.

‘In Zululand we have service points at SAPS victim friendly facilities at Ngome, Hlobane, Louwsburg, Pongola, Magudu, Paulpietersburg, Vryheid, Mondlo, Gluckstat, Mpungamhlope, Nongoma, Ulundi, Ceza, Mahlabathini, Babanango and a white door facility at Pongola,’ says Jewlal.

LifeLine’s victim empowerment programme (VEP) aims to increase emotional wellness by reducing victims’ secondary trauma and raising awareness around gender-based violence.

LifeLine services

* Gender-based violence: Free psychosocial support, counselling, trauma debriefing and containment through the victim empowerment programme and Thuthuzela Care Centre

* Community wellness: Community engagement, dialogues, Imbizos, community mapping and consultations on social ills, free counselling and support groups

* HIV/Aids: Community awareness and testing campaigns in collaboration with partners. Previous initiatives included a commercial sex workers programme.

* Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), training and sustainability: EAP and emotional wellness workshops, seminars and corporate training with a basket of services (not limited to) – suicide awareness and prevention, anger management, basic communication skills, emotional wellness and employee wellness days for small and medium corporates.

Here is a glimpse of the Lifeline social workers in the Zululand district:

Abaqulusi

• Nonkanyiso Khumalo
• Nomkhosi Magaya
• Zodwa Ndlanzi
• Nomalungelo Mhlongo
• Nondumiso Sibiya
• Senziwe Mtetwa
• Ntokozo Zulu
• Esethu Gwabavu
• Siyabonga Maduna

eDumbe

• Silindile Zungu
• Siphiwe Nzuza

uPhongolo

• Qiniso Buthelezi
• Smangele Mtembu
• Zandile Dube
• Nokuthula Ndlangamandla
• Ntombinkulu Sibiya
• Sanele Zulu

Nongoma

• Sonke Nene
• Promise Gumede
• Thenjiwe Funeka

Ulundi

• Nomfundo Zibani
• Zinhle Khumalo
• Nokubonga Mdletshe
• Busisiwe Shandu
• Nomvelo Ngubo
• Senelisiwe Mbatha

For more information, contact the LifeLine main office at 035 789 2472 or the Crisis Line at 035 789 7788.