What we do
The Ithemba Foundation is a non-profit entity (registration number: 2012/171250/08; PBO number: 930/048/019) with the public benefit goals of:
- raising awareness of depression and related diseases as a biological illnesses, and
- raising funds for research on depression.
Our main awareness projects include CrazySocks4Docs in June, the annual Hope Hike in October, and the participation of Team Ithemba in the various Cape Town Marathon events.
Why The Ithemba Foundation was founded
The founding directors of The Ithemba Foundation are parents who have lost their children to depression. They are Ithemba founder Lizette Rabe and her husband Anton Hörstmann, Petro and Jan Bosman, and Marita Swartz. Later Dr Cobus McCallaghan and his wife Karin joined the Board.
All the endeavours at Ithemba are done in the name of these beloved children: Fritz Hörstmann, Embeth Bosman, Hannes Swartz and all who have lost their lives to suicide.
Board members
The founding Board members of The Ithemba Foundation are Dr Marita van Schalkwyk, Petro Bosman, Jan Bosman, Anton Hörstmann and Prof Lizette Rabe.
When Dr Van Schalkwyk and Petro and Jan Bosman retired, Dr Cobus McCallaghan and his wife, Karin, joined as Board members.
Lizette Rabe and Anton Hörstmann retired in February 2025, and meanwhile, Dr Mareike Rabe Belbin and Carla Rabe were appointed as Board members, with Florence de Vries and Delana Eksteen joining them.
Ilse Cilliers of ICSC, a long-time associate of The Ithemba Foundation, was appointed as The Ithemba Foundation’s operations officer.