Meet The Team

Buli is the heartbeat of our operations, making sure everything behind the scenes runs smoothly — from patient admissions to hospital coordination. A married mother of twins, she brings warmth and empathy to every patient interaction. With training in clothing production and a creative eye as a make-up artist, her versatility shines through in the way she connects with people and adapts to every challenge. Her background in the retail industry has honed her people skills, making her both approachable and highly effective in supporting our patients and team.

Wilma is the welcoming face and voice of Solace Mindcare. With many years of experience working in a psychiatric practice, she brings a wealth of skill and professionalism to our team. She is married and a proud mother to an adult son. Known for her friendly presence, Wilma also keeps everything running on time — from coordinating diaries to ensuring patients are seen promptly. Her practical nature, sharp eye for efficiency, and warm rapport with patients make her an invaluable part of our practice. And outside of work, she’s famous for cooking a mean briyani!

Gail supports our Makhanda patients with warmth, flexibility, and dedication. With many years of experience working in medical practices, she responds promptly to referrals and ensures patients who need urgent care are prioritised quickly. Patients often remark on her approachable nature and the way she “makes a plan” to get things done. She supports our clinicians who consult at our Grahamstown site, helping everything run smoothly. Gail is a married mother to adult children and a proud Ouma to her adorable granddaughter. She brings the same care and commitment she shows her family into the way she supports our patients.

Celicia keeps Solace Mindcare financially sound and sustainable, managing billing, collections, and accounts with precision and efficiency. She is the go-to person for all account-related queries, ensuring patients know where to turn for clarity and support. While she can be firm and no-nonsense when it comes to finances, it’s because she takes her role seriously in safeguarding the practice’s sustainability. Her work allows clinicians to focus fully on patient care with peace of mind. Beyond her financial expertise, Celicia is a dedicated mom who enjoys hiking, and she brings both strength and steadiness to our team.

Dr. Siki Gwanya-Mdletye's journey into psychiatry has been shaped by a love for people, a passion for mental health, and a career that bridges medicine, occupational health, leadership, and advocacy.

She qualified as a medical doctor in 2004, earning her MBChB from the University of Transkei (now Walter Sisulu University). Early in her career, her interest in the relationship between health and the workplace led her to complete a Diploma in Occupational Medicine at Stellenbosch University, after which she spent more than a decade working as an occupational medical practitioner across diverse industries. During her tenure as Corporate Services Manager for a global automotive manufacturer, she served as Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the South African Business Coalition on Health and AIDS (SABCOHA), where she contributed to the development of the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB, and STIs (2017–2022). This experience seeded her lifelong commitment to advocacy and the integration of health into broader social and policy contexts.

Her curiosity for research and evidence-based practice inspired her to pursue a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology from Stellenbosch University, equipping her with the tools to design, analyse, and interpret clinical studies with rigour. But her true calling remained with matters of the mind. She transitioned into psychiatry, completing both the Diploma in Mental Health (CMSA) and specialist training at Fort England Psychiatric Hospital in Makhanda. She obtained her Fellowship at the College of Psychiatrists of South Africa (FC Psych SA, CMSA) and earned her MMed in Psychiatry from Walter Sisulu University.

Committed to continued growth and international perspectives, Dr. Siki most recently completed the Master of Psychiatry (MPsych) at the University of Melbourne. Her academic journey is matched by her active professional involvement: she is a member of SASOP, PsychMG, ZA-AIMH, and the Academy of Organisational and Occupational Psychiatry, and serves as Chair of the Advocacy & Policy Working Group at the Africa Global Mental Health Institute. She is also the Chairperson of the SASOP 2025 Congress, a role that reflects both her leadership in the profession and her commitment to advancing psychiatry in South Africa.

Through Solace Mindcare, she brings together all these threads — clinical expertise, occupational insight, research skills, and advocacy experience — to offer holistic and compassionate mental health care. Her work is driven by the belief that mental healthcare should be both excellent and humane, empowering people to find courage, healing, and dignity in their lives.

Dr. Iviwe Gqirana is a psychiatrist with a deep passion for advocacy and education, and her career reflects a commitment to shaping the future of mental health in South Africa.

She graduated with her MBChB from Walter Sisulu University in 2016 and went on to complete her specialist training in psychiatry, obtaining her Fellowship at the College of Psychiatrists of South Africa (CMSA) in 2023. Over the past five years, she has gained extensive experience in mental health care, working with both inpatients and outpatients.

Her clinical interests include child and adolescent psychiatry, addiction, and occupational mental health. Alongside her clinical work, she is a strong advocate for prevention and education, believing that equipping communities with knowledge is key to addressing both the mental health Crisis and the shortage of trained professionals.

Dr. Iviwe is currently the Convener for Early Career Psychiatrists in the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) and is actively involved in mentoring students and young doctors through the Christian Medical Fellowship. Between 2023 and 2025, she also contributed to the training of medical students while working as a psychiatrist at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha, helping to build the next generation of medical professionals.

At Solace Mindcare, she combines her clinical expertise, advocacy, and mentoring to support patients and communities with care, professionalism, and vision.

whose work is grounded in compassion, evidence-based practice, and a commitment to empowering individuals through understanding and healing.

She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Rhodes University (2017). Her career began across several public hospitals in the Eastern Cape, including Dora Nginza Tertiary Hospital, where she developed a mental wellness and substance use program that successfully reduced patient readmissions.

Although she works with clients across all age groups and a broad range of diagnoses, Siphesihle has a particular interest in trauma and loss. She approaches therapy in a holistic and person-centred way, carefully attuned to each client’s lived experience.

Her professional journey has also included experience in forensic psychology at Fort England Psychiatric Hospital in Makhanda, giving her the expertise to undertake medico-legal evaluations and independent psychological assessments. This makes her a trusted referral for legal professionals seeking clear, balanced insights into complex cases.

Beyond her clinical work, Siphesihle is a communicator and advocate. She hosts a national Christian radio show and runs a mental health psycho-educational platform on social media, where she shares practical, accessible tools for mental wellbeing. She is also a sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator, known for her ability to connect with audiences while bringing professional depth and authenticity.

At Solace Mindcare, she brings together her clinical skills, forensic expertise, and advocacy voice to support patients, families, and the broader community in meaningful and lasting ways.