When Banetsi Mphunga qualified as a psychologist he set up a mobile clinic in a taxi to encourage the youth to seek out counselling without fear of stigma.
Banetsi Mphunga is an inspiring individual. He has been offering counselling to the youth in Khayelitsha. He is campaigning to break the stigma of mental health issues within townships. One of his biggest passions is ending the vicious drug and alcohol cycle present among the youth he meets.
Banetsi started in 2015 with a mobile taxi clinic to address the lack of psychology clinics in Cape Town’s townships. He was inspired while working at a youth programme and he realised there were many psychological issues not being address.
The problem was so bad that Banetsi put his dream of opening a practice on hold and used all his saving to buy the minibus and start the mobile clinic. The taxi traveled around offering free counselling sessions and life skills.
“A kombi is spacious enough to hold a consultation, so I figured that would be the easiest way to reach as many people as possible.”
Since then Banetsi has opened an office where they formally sit and counsel people in need. The Township Parents and Children Counselling Centre is used as a head office and the taxi is used as an informal referral system.
The centre provides enriching opportunities for the youth including group activities like hiking and fun days. For Mandela Day the centre screened the ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ movie and hosted activities afterwards. They even focus on mental health of Gogo’s and Tata’s.
This initiative is changing the outlook of mental health in just one community. Banetsi hopes to launch the programme across South Africa.We wish him success in his goals.
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That’s awesome
where exactly is this located in Khayelitsha. how do we contact them?
Hiim Mr Yeko how can i contact you please give me you contact details i have a problem with my child,im staying kuyasa khayelitsha my no 0619099173 you can whtsp me as well
Thank you
am a single mother of two early teen girls, yesterday my oldest overdosed on pills in an attempt to commit suicide. I am at a loss and in dire need of help.
Hi am Nondumiso in sitec and was recently hijacked and now am not coping need help.
I was recently hijacked and I am not coping my no is 0730146542
Hi my 2 nephwes lost their mother 14 yrs ago now the older one committed suicide and I found out he had chronic depression. I think it’s started when their mother passed away now I’m afraid that the younger one is not coping after his brother killed himself. He needs help where can I contact you to make an appointment for him