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Nkandla

History

Sr Sola Schaumann and Sr Callista Riederer, the two German nurses, who were amongst the first four sisters who arrived in South Africa in 1955, were requested to do complementary nursing studies and training in midwifery so that they would be able to work as professional nurses in South Africa. They did their respective training in the Benedictine Hospital at Nongoma under the tutorship of the Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing and particularly also under Sr Reinolda May OSB, a midwife and tutor of generations of nurses, whose process of the cause for beatification was approved in the meantime.

1958
November

Sr Sola Schaumann and Sr Callista Riederer arrived in Nkandla, now qualified as professional nurses, to provide nursing care in Nkandla Hospital, which at that time was still known as “St Benedict’s Hospital”. They were welcomed by the Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing who had worked in Nkandla since 1939, when the St Benedict’s Hospital had been officially opened by Bishop Thomas Spreiter OSB, under the Diocese of Eshowe.

1959
January

The Nardini Sisters took over the running of the Hospital from the Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing as well as the already existing Nursing School with three student nurses at the time. The place was crowded and the 45 hospital beds were insufficient.

The hospital consisted of a male and female ward, two open verandahs for TB patients and an additional multifunctional room, equipped with an X-ray machine and an operating table.

Sr Sola Schaumann recounts later, in her late 90s: “I liked working in the maternity ward very much, but it was very demanding, especially when the sisters were called out at night to fetch patients. The Benedictine brothers and fathers assisted with the driving, but later a driver was employed. There were only dirt roads, and the car could only go so far, then the sisters had to walk deep into the valleys, to fetch the people, on and on, not knowing where they were going. It was very strenuous work, in difficult conditions with limited sources. Many of the people were affected by poverty and malnutrition. Many, many children were brought to the hospital, suffering from Kwashiorkor and Marasmus. Many young lives were saved through the medical intervention the hospital offered, but far too many children died. The people needed to be educated about good health practices and good nutrition.”

(Sr Sola, known affectionately as Magogo, passed away in Nkandla Hospital in 2021 at the age of 101)

More buildings were needed: Between 1962 and 1965 the following buildings were erected: A TB section, an X-ray department, an operation theatre, a nurses’ home, domestic quarters, the laundry and a power station. In 1976 the newly built childrens’ ward was blessed by Bishop Mansuet Biyase from Eshowe. By that time the number of approved hospital beds was 202.

In 1986 a new maternity ward was built and the number of hospital beds had increased to 266.

During all these years more Nardini Sisters had arrived from Germany who worked as nurses, midwives, or nurse managers in the hospital, or in the laboratory and in the X-ray department, as tutors in the Nursing School, or as chefs in the kitchen. Later, also South African Nardini Sisters joined the Hospital team as nurses and midwives. Two Nardini Sisters worked as medical doctors in the Hospital and in the clinics.

In 1973 Sr Irmingard, Dr Thalmeier, arrived, who also served as Medical Superintendent. She introduced the Comprehensive Health Services in the District. By 1979 the mobile nursing team paid monthly visits to 26 clinic points, to bring primary health care services closer to families affected by rural isolation and poverty. Over the years the number of the mobile clinics had increased to 41. Satellite clinics which are connected to Nkandla Hospital and were established many years back, are still operational to this day and serve as important first contact points in health matters concerning rural communities.

In 1974 Sr Carola Germeshausen took over the training of nurses at the Hospital till 2006. By that time the school had 146 student nurses.

1976

Meeting the patients in their home environment made the sisters aware that lasting cure can only be guaranteed by an improvement of their living conditions. The sisters, in particular Sr Sola Schaumann and Sr Kenelma Rieder, started Sizanani Centre, a Community Development Centre, to fight poverty and malnutrition – as a place to empower women with skills that would enable them to care for their children and acquire some self-sufficiency. Along with health education, home economics, food gardens / community food gardens and chicken, rabbit and sheep rearing, the women also learned sewing, weaving, knitting and other practical skills that helped to put food on the table. The sewing clubs, started by the Centre, found a good source of income, knitting school jerseys and sewing school uniforms. Students, who had trained and benefitted at the Centre started their own clubs throughout the province and beyond.
There were courses in adult literacy, financial skills, a Credit Union project and bible studies.

1978

Nkandla Hospital had been taken over by the government. The Nardini Sisters decided to continue serving the patients under the new administration.

In 1986 Sr Ellen, Dr Lindner, joined the Hospital team as medical doctor, who in 1998 became the CEO and in 2003 was appointed Medical Manager of Nkandla Hospital.

1978
Sizanani Centre

Meeting the patients in their home environment made the sisters aware that lasting cure can only be guaranteed by an improvement of their living conditions.

1983
Formation of the first South African sisters

An important decision concerning the future of the Nardini Sisters in South Africa was that, if Fr Nardini’s work was to continue, local vocations had to be taken in and formed in the spirit of our Founder.

1983
The first candidates were accepted, with Nompumelelo Nhleko being the very first one.
1987

The first clothing, the start of the Novitiate, took place.

1990s
Beginnings of Sizanani Outreach Programme

During the 1990’s, the sisters experienced the far reaching consequences of HIV/AIDS in the rural community of Nkandla. The impact on children was of particular concern to the sisters. As HIV/AIDS related deaths increased, the sisters supported affected children and provided temporary shelter at Sizanani Centre until the children could be placed with relatives or in foster care. The sisters were reminded of the times of Fr Nardini (1821-1862), when sickness and poverty prevailed, when people died of typhoid and children were orphaned or abandoned. The Nardini Sisters of Nkandla gathered and reflected on their work in the community, their charism and the special concern of Fr Nardini to support and restore family life. Sr Ellen, Dr Lindner, envisioned a coordinated mobile response that would reach those who might not otherwise have access to care.

2006
Sizanani Outreach Programme (SOP)

SOP was established. Sizanani means: “Help each other”. Sr Ellen, Dr Lindner, Programme Director of SOP, recruited caregivers from the local community in order to provide a mobile response to the
devastating effects of HIV in the area.

Sr Carola Germeshausen had joined Sizanani and later also Sr Hedwig Maphumulo, a social worker, who previously worked in Nkandla Hospital. Sr Ellen, Dr Lindner, still continued to work in the clinics of Nkandla Hospital as a medical doctor.

Outreach

Sizanani Outreach Programme (SOP) is an initiative of the Franciscan Nardini Sisters of the Holy Family – particularly of Sr Ellen, Dr Lindner – who have been working in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal for more than 60 years, providing medical services, skills development and small income-generating projects. Nkandla is a very rural area and people live scattered over the hills and in the valleys far from the village and healthcare facilities and other amenities. Most places are reached by dirt roads. It is the second poorest area in KwaZulu-Natal, with 88.2% of youth living in income-poor households and 74.5% of the total income for the area coming through Social grants. It is an area that has been devastated by HIV/AIDS and TB. Breadwinners, fathers, mothers and children died, and countless orphans and vulnerable children were left behind in the care of grandmothers with scarce resources or lived in childp headed families.

In 2006, Sizanani Outreach Programme was established primarily as a humanitarian response to alleviate the effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on individuals and families.

This care is provided through three components of SOP:

  1. The mobile outreach service goes out to the community, to provide support and care to people in need. The challenges our clients face are complex and multi-layered and SOP assesses their needs using the H.E.L.P.E.N. assessment tool. H stands for Health; E for Education; L for Legal support (e.g. placing children in foster care, or assisting in getting Birth Certificates and ID documents); P stands for Psycho-social support; E for Environment (e.g. shelter repairs, providing water tanks) and N for Nutrition (which includes encouragement of food gardens and chicken rearing projects).
  2. Sizanani Child and Youth Care Centre (SCYCC) provides residential care for 35 children who are either orphaned, abandoned or who have been the victims of violence, abuse and neglect.
  3. Sizanani Huts (Sizanani Arts and Culture Preservation Project) – offers people, mainly women, the opportunity to generate a small income through the production of traditional craft items e.g. bead work or grass work. Sr Selina Baloyi, a social worker, took over Sizanani Huts from Sr Sola Schaumann, one of the pioneer sisters in 1955.

Pastoral Work

The sisters assist in the parish:
  • Serving as sacristans
  • Visiting the sick
  • Directing and singing in the church choir
  • Proclaimers of the Word and Communion helpers
  • Conducting Service of the Word and Communion service in the outstations of the parish
  • Teaching catechism, preparing children for First Holy Communion
  • Forming of young women interested in becoming Nardini Sisters

Support The Nardini Sisters

The Nardini Sisters have been a pillar of faith, service, and compassion in their community. Your support, in any form, can make a meaningful difference in sustaining their vital work. Whether through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, every effort helps them continue their mission.

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