New Hanover Advice Office
Tel: 033 502 0132
About
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Staff:
Zandile Khanyile and Thabisile Miya. Zandile has worked for the advice office since 1998, and Thabisile joined in 2005. Each has a paralegal diploma from the University of Natal, as well as a SAQA-accredited Certificate in Paralegal Studies.
Local Municipality:
uMshwati (the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal)
Municipal Population and Area:
111 600 people; 1 818 sq. km
Areas served:
The advice office serves New Hanover as well as the towns and villages of Dalton, Wartburg, Trust Feed, Empolweni, Cramond, Swayimane, Claridge, Clan Syndicate, Cool Air, Fawn Lease, Mount Elias, Efaya, Montebello, Appelsbosch and Harburg. There are many surrounding farms, and most of the office’s clients either live or work on farms.
Description:
New Hanover is a small town of approximately 3000 people situated 35 kilometers north-east of Pietermaritzburg. The advice office opened in 1998 and is located at the magistrate court.
According to the most recent census, the population of the uMshwathi Local Municipality where New Hanover lies is 111 600. The area’s main economy is farming, with the most common being sugarcane. A quarter of people are unemployed and youth unemployment stands at 32%.
The level of formal education is low, with only one in five adults having a Matric qualification. Many areas have poor infrastructure, and for example 37% of homes are described as informal dwellings, while a quarter have no electricity and three quarters have no piped water.
There are high levels alcohol abuse in the area, which contributes to domestic violence. Other problems are teenage pregnancy, drug use and HIV. The community complain about the delivery of services like RDP houses, good roads and jobs, as well as about water shortages.
In 2021, the office attended to 636 new cases, with the most common being gender-based violence, followed by non-domestic harassment. Staff helped 514 clients to obtain protection orders and successfully resolved 72 cases through mediation.
The office is currently funded by the 1st for Women Foundation for a project that aims to support women affected by gender-based violence.
New Hanover Advice Office
Interview with Zandile Khanyile
How long have you worked for the advice office?
Since 1998
What are the main problems that you have to deal with?
The main problems are domestic violence, poverty and financial claims.
Have you had a case when you relied on traditional customs?
Yes, whenever there is a case that needs the services of traditional leaders, I phone them.
Would you say people’s attitudes and behaviour are starting to change?
Yes – people know their rights better now. For example, we don’t get as many cases of abuse of labour rights as we used to. It shows that employers have changed their mindset, for example on farms where workers are not educated.
Who is your role model?
Nelson Mandela. He has taught me the power of forgiveness and of living in harmony with people.
Are there any laws that would like to see changed?
Since domestic violence is a crime, maybe if the law stipulated that a perpetrator went straight to prison, there would be less abuse. These cases are increasing every month.
Can you describe one or two of the most satisfying cases you have dealt with?
- Helping people to get provident (retirement) funds. Most people don’t get assistance from the employer, especially if the person is claiming the policy of someone that has died.
- Helping women and children who are victims of domestic violence to find places in shelters where they are safe.
- We helped to provide food to victims of the storm and tornado in 2019, with the help of gold-hearted people and businesses who donated to us.
If you could change anything about your work and the people you deal with, what would it be and why?
We need more staff. I cannot do everything myself – attend to clients, take statements, provide counselling, mediations and legal advice, and do all the record-keeping.
I would like some of our clients to be more respectful to us and to talk politely. Sometimes they even want to fight with us and do not understand that we are only applying the law and we also have feelings.
What advice would you give children growing up in New Hanover?
I would advise them to go to school, avoid alcohol and drugs, avoid teenage pregnancy which is high here, and to go to tertiary education instead of getting an unskilled job.
Interview with Thabisile Miya
How long have you worked for CCJ?
Since 2005. I was a paralegal before I came to work here.
What are the main problems that you have to deal with?
The main problems are domestic violence, rape and labour issues.
Have you had a case when you relied on traditional customs?
We do see cases where people want to use traditional laws. We don’t apply those laws but refer them to the traditional leaders.
Would you say people’s attitudes and behaviour are starting to change?
Yes – women’s attitudes have changed. They have become empowered to speak out and claim their rights.
A client at New Hanover Advice Office
Who is your role model?
Nelson Mandela, because he fought for our freedom.
Are there any laws that would like to see changed?
The Children’s Act makes it legal for children as young as twelve to do family planning and have an abortion. I would change that.
Can you describe one or two of the most satisfying cases you have dealt with?
A client’s grandmother died and the father of her child didn’t want to help support their child. She came to ask for advice, and I called the father to mediation and he agreed to pay. He is still paying maintenance now.
What advice would you give children growing up in New Hanover?
I would say that education is the key and that you should study until matric and afterwards if you can.
Many clients haven´t eaten in days, and advice office staff provide them with food, clothes and toys when they can.
If you can help, please contact our Head Office or an advice office directly to request banking details or more information. Even the smallest donation is appreciated.