MEDICAL OFFICERS

The backbone of care, these doctors are multi-skilled generalists. Many are already part of the furniture, adding the kind of stability that makes sustained growth possible.

Dr Suretha Cilliers
Suretha graduated from Pretoria and did her community service in the Eastern Cape before a stint in Cape Town. Her love for the people and area didn’t leave her though and she returned in 2013. Her professional interests are in infectious diseases; she has a diploma in HIV. Together with her husband Ruan, she has founded a mentoring NGO called Sihamba Sonke. Although three young kids keep her rather busy, in a "previous life" she enjoyed a variety of outdoor pursuits. 

Dr John Michell
John did his community service at Zithulele in 2017, after graduating from Pretoria and doing internship at Ngwelezana Hospital in Kwa-Zulu Natal. He is excited to finally be in genuinely rural practice. He has pioneered the era of blood donation at Zithulele. Passionate about his faith, he's also a keen sportsman and married to Jenny, who works for the NGO Jabulani.

Dr Thembinkosi Motlhabane
Thembinkosi's career at Zithulele dates back to the early days! He did community service here in 2010 and stayed on until early 2013. One of the original Cuban-trained doctors, he finished his degree at Walter Sisulu University. He then returned to Mthatha, where he's worked mainly in paediatrics, before coming home (he grew up in our catchment area) in 2020. When he's not at work, he pastors a church and helps Grade 10, 11 and 12 school learners with mathematics! He also has a wife and two kids!

Dr Gerhard Steenkamp
Gerhard joined us in 2020 after internship in Pietermaritzburg and community service in Hermanus. He's a Stellenbosch graduate and grew up in Cape Town. His interests in health are urology and orthopaedics, but for now he's broadening his horizons with general medicine. Or perhaps it's the location that's lured him... he loves the outdoors, be it trail running, surfing, birding or downhill cycling.