“MR. CONDOMJWABU”

Phakamani Ndlovu has made preaching safe sex his mission in life.

PM.Who is Phakamani?

PN:Phakamani “Mrcondomjwabu” Ndlovu is a young, vibrant, spunky socialite, positive influencer on social media and multi-award winning public speaker, who has over 11 years experience in community work, working as a social behavior change advisor, radio presenter, MC and social entrepreneur. I am passionate about social change, youth and community development. I started community work at a very young age and in 2009 I registered a Non Profit Organization. Later in 2017, I started Phakamani Empowerment with a focus on social behavior change to educate young people about safe sex, circumcision, STI’s screening and treatment and condom usage etc. He is also a public speaker who gives motivational talks at schools and TVET colleges.

PM:Where and when did it all begin?

PN: This journey started back in in 2011 when I went for a free circumcision at McCord Hospital. After this experience, I was very pleased and I even posted on the hospital’s Facebook page to commend the staff for their professionalism and for the good service. They called me and asked if I would like to talk about my experience and encourage people at their clinic, I agreed and that is when I became an ambassador for medical male circumcision in eThekwini. I then worked at the hospitals Marketing department, focusing on medical male circumcision. In 2013, when the hospital closed, I carried on with this line of work. I joined the Society for Family Health, an NGO that has a contract with the Department of Health, where I work as a co-ordinator for Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in the eThekwini District.

PM: How are people receiving you, especially in black communities where talking openly about sex is still considered a sin?

Back in 2017 when I started, it was very difficult but because I am driven by passion I never gave up and today I receive invites from companies, healthcare facilities, universities, TVET colleges and taxi tanks to talk about safer sex which humbles me as I am starting to see the fruit s of my hard work . However it’s still a bit of a difficult y to speak to elderly people who are 50 years upwards since I am young but once they show me support ,I just continue with ease.

PM: What would you say are the highs and lows of what you are doing?

I regards messages of compliments from people I have positively impacted their lives as highs for me and lows are getting invites from all over the province when I don’t have money for petrol .

PM. Working with people is not an easy thing, how do you maintain sanity?

Sshhh! This is a very hectic environment to be in. I listen to Gospel music on my way to work and back and I also listen to motivational talks a lot. My wife is also very supportive as she always ensure that we pray daily when we leave the house and when we come back home.

For any safe sex related issues, you can contact Phakamani on 0837615841

Sithembiso Sibisi

Isikhathi esiphila kusona sinzima kakhulu,imisebenzi ayikho,naleyo ekhona ayiholeli ngendlela egculisayo ngoba zonke izinto zimba eqolo. Ngendlela isimo esinzima ngayo, kukhala ngisho abaneziqu zemfundo ephakeme ngoba abaningi azibasebenzeli. Isikhathi lesi sokuthi sibheke izindlela ezintsha zokwenza ukuze sizokwazi ukubhekana nalesimo,kungenjalo siyofa sikhala njengembuzi.

Isikhathi sokulindela ukuqashwa sidlulile manje,sekuyisikhathi sokuthi umuntu nomuntu abheke ukuthi uMdali wakhe umupheni bese eyakusebenzisa ukuthi aphile. Imadlana encane umuntu anayo, sekumele acabange ukuthi uzoyikhulisa kanjani ukuze ezokwazi ukubhekana nezinselelo zempilo. Ukuzijabulisa kuhle futhi kuyingxenye ebalulekile yempilo kodwa akuwenzi umqondo ukuthi umuntu athathe ubadlana analo ngalesosikhathi azijabulise ngalo bese eyabalisa.

Into yokuqala esihluphayo thina,ukuthi siyavilapha ukucabanga ukuthi yini le ngempela esiphathiswe yona bese sigijimela izinto eziphathiswe abanye.Uma zingasaphumeleli siba nomona noma sithi uJehova akasithandi. Ingakho nje ezindaweni zethu kugcwele amabhizinisi afanayo,adayisa into eyodwa. Uma esekhona umuntu odayisa amagwinya endaweni,asimeseke kunokuthi siqale ibhizinisi elifanayo nathi .

Eyesibili ilena yokuthi asisekani. Abezizwe bacebe kangaka nje ingoba basekwa ithina,cabanga ke ukuthi kungenzekani uma singake sisekane sodwa siyisizwe.

Ake sishintshe ukwenza,lemadlana encane esinayoake siyenze isisebenzele.