LifeLine and Rape Crisis Pietermaritzburg

LifeLine Pietermaritzburg — formally known as LifeLine PMB and Rape Crisis — has been providing 24-hour telephone counselling and community support to the people of Pietermaritzburg and KwaZulu-Natal's interior since February 1972. One of LifeLine's oldest South African centres, they serve a vast catchment of five municipal districts, covering both urban Pietermaritzburg and extensive rural and peri-urban areas across KZN. Their vision is a KZN of emotionally well and self-empowered communities — free from GBV, HIV, stigma, and mental illness.

What makes LifeLine PMB distinctive is their dual identity as both a LifeLine counselling centre and a Rape Crisis centre — meaning that sexual violence survivors in particular have access to a full integrated service. They were also the first LifeLine centre in South Africa to offer online counselling, pioneering the model that now serves the whole network.

What They Offer Survivors

24-Hour Telephone Crisis Line and Online Counselling LifeLine PMB's crisis line has operated around the clock since 1972. Their online counselling service at www.lifeonline.co.za offers text-based support — making it accessible to Deaf and hard-of-hearing survivors, or anyone who cannot speak freely. All counsellors are trained volunteers who donate their time and are selected for their empathy, integrity, and ability to maintain confidentiality.

Rape Crisis Centre — First Response and Ongoing Support As a designated Rape Crisis centre, LifeLine PMB provides first-response crisis counselling for rape survivors, forensic support, and ongoing individual and group counselling for people recovering from sexual violence — at any stage of their healing, whether the assault was recent or historical.

Thuthuzela Care Centre Support — Edendale TCC LifeLine PMB places social workers and social auxiliary workers at Edendale TCC — a 24-hour one-stop facility for rape and domestic violence survivors providing medical, psychosocial, and legal support under one roof.

Face-to-Face Individual Counselling One-on-one sessions are available at the Princess Street offices, covering GBV, trauma, relationship difficulties, depression, grief, family conflict, and more. Counselling is person-centred — you set the pace and direction.

Group Therapy and Play Therapy for Children Group therapy sessions are available for survivors and community members. Play therapy is specifically available for children who have been affected by HIV/AIDS, violence, or trauma — an important and rare service for the youngest survivors.

Court Support and Advocacy LifeLine PMB prepares adult survivors for the court process, supports them through proceedings, and advocates on their behalf — ensuring that appearing in court is as safe and supported an experience as possible.

Community Dialogues on GBV, HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health Community and school dialogues address GBV, sexual reproductive health rights, HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, and anger management — building knowledge and changing norms at the community level.

Male Dialogues and Men's Engagement Male dialogues on GBV engage men as allies — building understanding and accountability in a community setting.

Skills Development and Personal Growth Training Youth ambassador programmes, personal growth training, life skills, and economic strengthening initiatives help survivors build confidence, capability, and independence.

HIV Counselling, Testing and School-Based Programmes LifeLine PMB runs pre-risk HIV counselling and testing at 14 senior schools across Pietermaritzburg's peri-urban areas — reaching young people before they are most at risk.

LifeLine PMB crisis line: 033 342 4447. Online counselling available anytime at www.lifeonline.co.za — including for Deaf and hearing-impaired callers. All services are confidential and free of charge.