Phaphamani Home Based Care was established in 1997 by a group of religious women under the leadership of a retired nurse. Phaphamani is a Zulu word meaning "wake up" which alerts the community to stand up against the imminent spread of HIV and AIDS in the community. Phaphamani was registered as a non-profit organisation in 1999 (registration no. 006-664 NPO)

The identification of the first HIV infected person at Kabokweni was in 1989, when the blood bank tested a school student who donated blood and it was found to be HIV positive. since then there have been an increase in the number of HIV infections.

The organisation strives to help community members infected with HIV and AIDS to achieve optimal health improvement as well as give much needed support and counselling to patients and their families through the work of community volunteers who provide home based care services.

Phaphamani started with the Home Based Care Programme, and it has grown to include other services for community members infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. In addition to palliative home care and counselling , the organisation operates an income generation and skills development project (sewing and gardening), an orphan and vulnerable family drop-in centre, and a voluntary counselling and testing site. Through hard work and dedication it has received recognition around the province and the country at large.