Ms Phumzile Zondi-Mabizela, Bible study and ‘prayers’ leader: HIV and AIDS rights advocate

Zondi-Mabizela was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the KwaZulu Natal Christian Council at the beginning of July 2006 and is the Deputy Chairperson of the Pietermaritzburg Agency for Christian Social Awareness (PACSA).
 

Zondi-Mabizela was diagnosed as HIV+ in 1999 and has since worked with many local, national and international organizations which are committed to the empowerment of PLWH.She is a member of the African Network of Religious Leaders living with/personally affected with HIV and AIDS (ANERELA+) and is the Chairperson of the South African Chapter, known as SANERELA+.

Trained in the Salvation Army, she was commissioned (ordained) in 1988. She later moved on to other ministries where she worked for youth organizations such as Youth Alive Ministries and Youth for Christ. Within Youth for Christ, she co-founded their Women Empowerment project known as Phakama. She also worked for the Institute for the Study of the Bible, now known as Ujamaa Centre, as the Women and Gender Programme co-ordinator for six years.Zondi-Mabizela is now an elder and candidate for ministry of the Word and Sacrament in the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, Hammarsdale branch.