Sharon Southgate

Hospital Manager

Sharon is an experienced, efficient and dedicated manager whose care and expertise are appreciated by staff and patients alike. 

Larry Tooke

Clinical Manager

Larry worked in public health at Town Hill Hospital before joining Oatlands as Clinical Manager in 2013. Larry works with a talented and caring therapeutic team that meets regularly, both formally and informally, to discuss how best to assist patients in their healing.

Larry tends to works eclectically, drawing on psychological theories that he believes will be most helpful for his clients. His therapeutic interests include Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy, DBT, psycho-dynamic approaches and CBT. 

Jo Van Dalen

Nursing Manager

Sr Jo Van Dalen has been nursing for 23 years. Her love and passion has always been in psychiatry where her area of expertise is evident.

Sr Jo worked at Sunfield home for 5 years before joining Oatlands in April 2020. She heads up a team of experienced and dedicated nurses at Oatlands Care Centre.

Lee Buchanan

Lee Buchanan is a Clinical Psychologist. Lee uses a psychodynamic approach to individual depth work. Ecosystemics and Narrative Therapy is the basis for Lee’s group therapy work at Oatlands which brings the perspective of cultural awareness and the idea that one can refuse to be swept along in societal discourse and thereby rescript one’s life authentically.

Quaraisha Baig

Quaraisha is a Clinical Psychologist with a keen interest in human behaviour and the way the brains works. She decided to channel her interest into a meaningful career that keeps her interested and intrigued. Quaraisha feels it is important to work in a manner that is respectful to the person at all times using a non judgmental, confidential approach. She works collaboratively with the person in an evidence based manner that aims to establish an authentic relationship regardless of the persons characteristics, culture or social stature.

Marion Greene

Marion's therapeutic approach is informed by a psychodynamic perspective within which she incorporates body-based approaches such as Stress and Trauma Release Excercises (TRE) and Somatic Experiencing and Soma Embodiment Touch and Movement.  Marion has a great interest and passion for Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy which adds a unique experiential embodied context to the therapeutic process.

Julia Braine

Julia, a Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychologist, was employed by the then University of Natal, and the current University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus) as a lecturer, and thereafter as the Director of the Student Counselling and Careers Centre. Her interests are many and varied: she works according to her clients’ needs as they reflect on and redefine their sense of self, and meaning of their life.

Constance Mkhize

Dr Mkhize is a qualified Clinical Psychologist with 14 years of experience in the field. She completed her undergraduate degree BA-UNIZULU, Postgraduate degree -Honours BA in UNIZULU, Masters in Clinical Psychology UKZN (PMB) and went on to pursue her PhD in Community Psychology in UNIZULU.

Nandisa Tushini

Nandisa is a Counselling Psychologist. Over the last ten years she has had a keen interest in grief work with individuals and groups, working in government and NGOs. She has also supervised and designed programmes on this topic and works with clients to create an experiential healing experience. Nandisa works with adults and children and enjoys helping families come to terms with loss.

Thabo Sekhesa

Thabo Sekhesa, PhD is an experienced educational psychologist with over 10 years of practice. His work focuses on promoting learning and development, with a strong interest in Afrocentric approaches to psychological interventions and identity formation. Dr. Sekhesa is passionate about integrating culturally relevant perspectives into his practice to support holistic growth and empowerment.

Nabillia Smith

Nabillia Smith is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Howick and Estcourt. Nabillia engages in therapy with children, adolescents and adults. Her therapeutic modality and intervention methods are adapted according to the specific needs and strengths of the person. Nabillia facilitates the Mindfulness group at Oatlands.

Sarah MacBean

Sarah adopts a holistic approach while offering individual and group therapy. Sarah's therapy encourages individuals to develop life skills, assess their relationships, remember their unique interests and prioritize their level of satisfaction in daily life. Sarah believes in supporting and encouraging individuals to believe in themselves, and their individual abilities. Art therapy is a medium regularly used in group therapy, to encourage individuals to explore self expression; and in doing so, gain personal insight.

Dr Stewart Lund

Dr Lund qualified in 1989 and has been in private practice since 1991. His special interests are mood and anxiety disorders, as well as old age psychiatry. He has been a psychiatrist at Oatlands since its inception.

Dr Khatija Olla

Dr Olla has worked at a number of psychiatric hospitals, both in South Africa and the United Kingdom before settling in Pietermaritzburg. Her areas of interest include Depressive Mood Disorders, Bipolar Mood Disorder, Anxiety and Stress related Disorders and Personality Disorders. Dr Olla uses a problem-oriented, holistic approach to helping her patients; incorporating medication, individual psychotherapy and group psychotherapy. She is a proud advocate of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Dr Njabulo Sibiya

Dr Sibiya a Specialist Psychiatrist, MBChB (UKZN), FC Psych (SA), MMed (Psych)(UKZN), consults at Oatlands Care Centre. His practice is based on a combination of expertise, professionalism and compassion which will ensure you receive efficient mental health services. Dr Sibiya provides comprehensive clinical assessments and offers focused treatment. He has a special interest in, Psychopharmacology (The complex field of study of the appropriate use of psychiatric medication), Psychosomatic Medicine (Psychological factors affecting the development, course and outcome of diseases), and Spirituality in Psychiatry. Dr Sibiya involves you in decisions about your treatment because he believes that you are an important role player in your healing journey.

Dr Busisiwe Bhengu-Duba

Dr Busisiwe Bhengu-Duba INC is specialist psychiatric practice situated in Pietermaritzburg at Akeso Clinics PMB. The practice was established in September 2022 and launched in October 2022. Dr Busisiwe Bhengu-Duba is a specialist psychiatrist who has admission rights at Akeso clinics Pietermaritzburg and Oatlands Care Centre in Howick.   Dr Busisiwe Bhengu-Duba can provide you with psychiatric care for a number of conditions. These conditions include Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Mood Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Psychosis, Dementia, Personality Disorders, sleeping disorders (insomnia), HIV Related Psychiatric Disorders. She also has an interest in women’s health, and believes maternal mental health is intricately linked to and influences infant and child health.

Admin Staff

Our admin staff are here to welcome you on admission, and assist as far as they are able with medical aid authorisations and queries. Admin office hours are Monday-Friday, 07:30 –16:30

Nursing Staff

Our nurses have on-going in-house training to equip them to care for patients in a professional and ethical manner. Qualified nurses are on duty 24 hours a day.

Catering Staff

Capitol Caterers have been contracted to supply all our Catering needs. Trained chefs are on hand to provide healthy and wholesome meals.