About

Masibambisane Retired Nurses Organisation is a non-governmental organisation composed of retired nurses residing in and around Clermont, Pinetown in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa). Our moto is “United to promote togetherness”, hence the name MASIBAMBISANE, meaning holding together in IsiZulu.

The objectives of the organisation are:

To promote the spirit of unity/sisterhood among the retired nurses, especially during difficult times such as sickness and bereavement.
To establish funds to achieve the objectives of the organisation.
To encourage and promote health and related education in the community (e.g., HIV/AIDS counselling, drug and substance abuse counselling, chronic medical conditions and anti-violence).
To promote social contact in the organisation through organising social activities such as birthday celebrations, Mother’s Day, tours and entertainment, etc.
To promote nursing as a noble profession.

Founders

Masibambisane Retired Nurses Organisation was founded in 2001 in Clermont, KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) by three retired nurses: the late Ms Gloria Shabalala, Mrs Nomalizo Sixishe-Kunene and Mrs Dora Khanyile (may their souls rest in peace).

Late Ms Gloria
Shabalala

Late Mrs Nomalizo
Sixishe-Kunene

Late Mrs Dora
Khanyile

They wanted to create this organisation for the following reasons:

To establish or create a social group where they could meet, keep contact and remember the days when they used to work together as nurses.
To share ideas and aspirations of their lives in the present time of retirement, hence the name MASIBAMBISANE, which means holding each other together.
To pay visits to each other in times when they are happy (during celebrations or parties), when they are worried (like illness) or when they are bereaved (death of a family member or the member herself).
To ensure that when death comes to one of them, they are buried with dignity with the presence of colleagues, who will recite the Nurses Pledge of Service wearing the Nurse’s Uniform.
To travel together as a group nationally and internationally at different times.
Giving educational talks to the group by those who have specialised in certain aspects of nursing such as mental health.
Celebration of special days such as Valentine’s Day, Women's Day, Mother's Day and Christmas as a group.
Offering community to help with the sick within the community and in the homes of the sick.

Committee Members

Masibambisane Retired Nurses Organisation is led by a committee of passionate and dedicated retired nurses. The role of the committee is:

To provide leadership, oversight, as well as direction to the group.
To organise meetings, book the venue, set the dates and ensure that meetings are run as planned.
To formulate a year plan for with the group, regarding different types of issues and events, these include visiting the chronically ill who are no more able to attend scheduled meetings, planning various activities such as in-service training which gets done by the members themselves and organising national and international visits.
To ensure that the finances of the group are paid regularly - there is a standing payment of R130 (one hundred and thirty Rand) per month per member - this money finances the group when there are important gatherings, such as end of the year celebrations, the Christmas party, Annual General Meeting and catering services needed. There is a fund paid to the family in the case of the member dying whilst still in the organisation.

The committee is made up of the following members:

Mrs Pam Zungu: President

Mrs Zungu has a B.A. Cur. Nursing and Majors in Community Health Nursing Science and Nursing Administration. Pam also has an Advanced Diploma in Nursing Education, and is a Stomaltherapy and Wound Care Specialist. In 2009, Pam was awarded a "Life Membership Certificate" by the South African Stomaltherapy Association", and she is a member of the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET). She worked at King Edward V111 Hospital and ended her career as a Nurse Manager at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. Her overall nursing experience spans for 46 years. Pam retired in 2015.

Mrs Busisiwe Zuma : Vice President

Mrs Zuma trained as a General Nurse & Midwife at St Mary’s Hospital. She completed courses in Family Planning and Leadership. She worked as a Registered Nurse and Midwife at KwaNdengezi Clinic, Hysef Clinic and KwaDabeka Community Health Center, respectively. Busisiwe retired in 2014.

Dr Thoko Ndaba: Secretary

Dr Ndaba holds a Ph.D.in Public Health, a Master’s Degree (research topic on breast feeding patterns of HIV positive and HIV negative mothers in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa), and a B. Cur. (Praxis Extensa) from the University of Natal. She also has an advanced university diploma in Human Resource Management. She is a Registered Midwife, Registered Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse and Registered Paediatric Nurse. She has also had exposure in terms of academic enhancement as follows: Women's Health from the University of Melbourne in Australia and Epidemiology and Bioethics in developing countries from John Hopkins University in the United States. She has also served on the following Boards/Committees: National Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Committee (NaPeMMCo) of the DoH and the Neonatal Nurses Association (NASA). Thoko retired in 2015.

Mrs Tholakele Nzama: Vice Secretary

Mrs Nzama was trained at KEH, and obtained a diploma in General Nursing, Science and Midwifery. She also had a diploma in Community Health Nursing Science at Mangosuthu University of Technology, and a Psychiatric Nursing Science and B Cur at UNISA with measures in Health Services Management and nursing education. Tholakele retired in 2019.

Ms Sibongile Ngcobo: Treasurer

Ms Ngcobo matriculated from Vryheid High School. She did general nursing at St Mary's Hospital and midwifery KEH. She completed diplomas in Psychiatry, Community, and Administration at the Institute for Nurses at the University of Natal. She also worked at different hospital and clinics. Sibongile retired in 2015.

Mrs Ritta Merasi: Liaison Officer

Mrs Merasi was Professional Nurse at King Edward Hospital in the Operating Theatre 2. She has a Diploma in General Nursing, Midwifery and Operating Theatre technique, and a B.A. Cur Nursing Majors, Administration & Community Nursing at UNISA. She retired as an Assistant Nursing Manager at Ngwelezana Hospital in Empangeni after 31 years. Ritta retired in 2016.

Mrs Mary Hlophe: Chairperson for the Catering Committee

Mrs Hlophe matriculated at Inanda Seminary. She trained as a Registered Nurse at Edendale Hospital, as a Midwife at King Edward VIII Hospital and in Intensive Care Course at Wentworth Hospital. She also completed Nursing Management at the University of Natal and B.A. Cur at UNISA. She ended her career as an Assistant Nurse Manager at King Edward Hospital. Mary retired in 2013.

Mrs Linda Shangase: Consultant

Mrs Shangase trained as a Registered Nurse & Midwife at Livingstone Hospital, and trained in Ward Administration & Family Planning at King Edward VIII Hospital. She also worked as a Registered Nurse/Midwife at Livingstone, Edendale and Umphumulo Hospital, respectively. Linda retired in 1994.

Ms Busi Mbhele: Co-opted Member

Ms Mbhele was an Enrolled Nurse who trained at St Aiden’s Hospital. Busi also worked at Clairwood Hospital and worked at KwaDabeka Community Health Centre. Her overall nursing experience spans for 33 years. Busi retired in 2016.

Mrs Joyce Mavanini: Co-opted Member

Mrs Mavanini from Umlazi trained at K.E viii Hospital as a General Nurse, midwifery, and completed a B.A. Cur at University of South Africa. She has traveled to Singapore, England, Sweden, Australia, and all the provinces in South Africa, including Swaziland s a representative for South Africa in the field of Stomatherapy. She was employment at KE viii, Inkosi Albert Central Hospital, Bekimpilo Home Based Care and St. Clements Home Based Care Project. Joyce retired in 2016.

Mrs Lindiwe Shabalala: Co-opted Member

Mrs Shabalala trained at Montebello Hospital in 1972. She worked from 1983 to 1985 at Natal Settlers Memorial Nursing Home, from 1985 to 2001 at St Mary’s Hospital, and from 2001 to 2014 at KwaDabeka Clinic. Lindiwe retired in 2014.

Catering Committee

Our Catering Committee - these ladies attend to the organisation's catering needs.