Sibongile’s passion is serving society
Seasoned social work lecturer and accredited clinical practitioner takes up post as Zululand Hospice Association General Manager.
UNDENIABLY suited for her new position as Zululand Hospice Association General Manager, Dr Sibongile Magagula (61) is a natural when it comes to compassion and palliative care.
Responsible for the overall management of the organisation, Dr Magagula has her hands quite full.
‘I have to ensure Hospice culture is in place, which entails providing support, generating funds and achieving annual targets. I must maintain and improve current projects and develop new ones to increase income and promote awareness of the association,’ she said.
Having gained experience during her career with the Department of Social Development, Sibongile has for the past nine years been a lecturer at the University of Zululand (Unizulu) where she was first introduced to Hospice.
‘I placed one of my students as a field practicum coordinator and when she returned to present her field experience to the panel, she spoke so beautifully of Hospice and I decided when I retire, my skills would be well implemented in such an environment,’ she said.
Scholar of social work
Born and raised in Georgedale, Camperdown, she graduated in 1994 from the then University of Transkei with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work before she moved to Zululand and completed her Honours at Unizulu.
In 2000, Dr Magagula enrolled at Jackson State University, Mississippi to complete her Masters degree. Returning in 2004, she took up a post at Unizulu and later completed her PhD while she continued to lecture.
In partnership with her church, Dr Magagula founded the eSikhawini Methodists Orphans Project, which to date cares for 60 children whose parents were members of the church and have subsequently passed away.
Mother of four, grandmother of seven, she is an accredited clinical counselling practitioner who in her free time enjoys a workout at the gym or a good read by Joyce Meyer.
Driven by bringing about positive change, Dr Magagula says teen pregnancy and unemployed postgraduates deeply saddens her.
‘We need to curb this epidemic which adds to the number of school drop outs and in turn aggravates several other spheres of social ills. Furthermore, we cannot have educated minds wandering our streets!’ she said.
Zululand Hospice’s partner in the US is happy to hear of the appointment by the Board of Zululand Hospice Association
of Dr. Magagula. We hope she will be successful in her goals for this wonderful agency and derive great satisfaction in this role. We continue to carry the staff, volunteers and patients in our hearts and prayers.