Sister Khombisile Innocentia Ntuli, mostly known as KI, joined the team in October 2018. She retired in May 2018 from the Department of Health, King Dinuzulu Hospital where she worked for 30 years - 20 with children in the TB wards and the last 10 in Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB Clinic. Financially and physically not ready to retire, she has brought good old-fashioned nursing care to the organisation.

Sandra’s early training and work experience was in Administration and Information Technology. She soon recognised that her interest and passion lay elsewhere - with young children.

She also saw the need for knowledge and training in this field and undertook and successfully completed the Level 1, 2 and 3 Early Childhood Development Training provided through Embury College. She met a wonderful Preschool Teacher with many years’ experience who has mentored and encouraged her.

She runs the Play and Stimulation Programme , Ekhaya Lihle,implemented by Umduduzi at the King Dinuzulu Hospital with dedication and commitment.

Tracey graduated from the University of Natal (Durban) in 1996. She went on to study at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and completed a Master of Social Work (Clinical Practice) in 2003. She started her career as a social worker for Margate & District Child & Family Welfare Society, then moving on to project managing various AIDS programmes, focusing on the care and well being of children. She has also worked in addiction therapy and holds a post-graduate diploma in Marriage and Guidance Counselling.

From 2008 to 2012, as project manager, she opened the Durban Branch of the Bigshoes Foundation and has cultivated an interest in paediatric palliative care. She has been involved in teaching and training doctors, nurses and social workers in paediatric palliative care and designed course work material for the purpose as well as provides direct services to children and their families.

In January 2013 she co-founded Umduduzi – Hospice Care for Children, an NPO set up to continue the work of Bigshoes in KZN.

Julia graduated from UCT in 1997 and did her community service in hospitals around KZN before moving to the UK for 7 years. During her time there she qualified as a GP and completed her Diploma in Palliative Medicine from the University of Cardiff, Wales. She worked at Helen and Douglas House – well-known children’s hospices in the UK. Upon returning to KZN she began working at the Bigshoes Foundation’s Durban office where she assisted in starting the palliative care work.

Julia is a sessional lecturer for the Department of Paediatrics UKZN and lectures on palliative care for 4th, 5th and 6th year students. She has been involved in teaching and training doctors, nurses and social workers in paediatric palliative care and designed course work material for the purpose as well as provides direct services to children and their families.

In January 2013 she co-founded Umduduzi – Hospice Care for Children, an NPO set up to continue the work of Bigshoes in KZN.

Nomandla was part of the Bigshoes Team who founded the play programme, Sithandeni, at Clairwood Hospital. She stayed on with Umduduzi to continue the amazing work that she has been doing at the play programme. In 2018 when Clairwood Hospital closed its doors to children, Sithandeni was moved to Prince Mshyeni Memorial Hospital. Her passion for these little ones is contagious.

Siegfriedah Philiswa Gcaba, known affectionately as Phili, joined the team as our translator and family supporter in August 2020. She is trained both as a caregiver and Early Childhood Development (ECD) teacher and has a natural gift with the children and their parents.

Phili has also been exposed to the hospitality field as she worked at a Bed &Breakfast Lodge in Durban recently. She has two grown up daughters. Her all round experience makes her an excellent communicator which is essential for her role in this palliative care team.