Professional Staff

Dr Francois van Niekerk

BSc Agric [Hons] BVSc

Dr van Niekerk obtained a degree in Agriculture at Stellenbosch and then worked inter alia in Zimbabwe before resuming his studies in order to qualify in veterinary science.  He graduated as a veterinarian from Onderstepoort in 1978. He has wide-ranging interests including wildlife and conservation, military history and geology. He lectures part-time to students in Game Ranch Management at  NMMU  on diseases, parasites and nutrition of Game Animals.  His outdoor activities include hiking, mountain climbing, cycling and sailing.

Dr Van Niekerk has made a significant contribution, not only to this area, but also to his profession. He initiated the Ruminant Liasion committee which is still active and very relevant in this area, as well as the TB and CA liasion committee. He has been recognised by his peers for his contribution not only to the profession, but also to the committees he has served upon during his veterinary career. He has been the secretary of the International Pig Veterinary Society for more than 10 years and has received several awards from the South African Veterinary Association. 

Dr Pieter Jansen van Vuuren

BVSc

Dr Van Vuuren first studied Agriculture for two years at the University of the Free State and then switched to veterinary science, graduating at Onderstepoort in 1997.

He worked in a mixed practice in the Midlands, England until the year 2000.  He returned to South Africa and joined this practice as a locum and then a full-time veterinarian. He became a partner in 2003. His main fields of interest are cattle and horses, but he also enjoys orthopaedic surgery in small animals. 

He is married to Adre, who is also a vet, and they have three daughters. As a family, they enjoy the outdoors, and often take part in horse-riding events in the area. Pieter also farms with Boran cattle. 

Dr Annelise Barker

BVSc

Dr Annelise Barker graduated from Onderstepoort in  1982. After practising in Gauteng for a year, she ventured overseas to broaden her vision. She joined this practice in 1983. Her field of interest is small animals especially medicine. She regards continuing education as a necessity and enjoys attending veterinary courses in different countries combining them with some travelling. She enjoys nature, hiking and jogging to keep fit. 

Her priority in life is her Christian faith as it is the solid foundation from where she derives her motivation, hope and joy.

Dr Anthony Davis

BSc BVSc MSc (Veterinary Tropical Diseases)

Anthony Davis obtaind a BSc from Rhodes University majoring in entomology and zoology. He then studied veterinary Science, qualified in 1997 and started work at Sterkspruit Veterinary Clinic, a mixed practice in Lydenburg with a strong emphasis on herd health. Mixed practice afforded him the opportunity to work on a variety of species including dairy, beef, sheep, horses and companion animals. He completed a Master’s degree in Veterinary Tropical diseases of production animals in 2014.

He has published work on Veterinary Geology, clinical cases of Selenium deficiency in Mpumalanga, Asiatic redwater, and an E. coli DNA probe. He has also presented topics at the RUVASA veterinary congress, farmers’ days and written magazine articles for Stockfarm. His interests include tick and insect-borne diseases, toxicology, photography, learning how to canoe and how to catch a fish in the Gamtoos river.

Mixed practice is all about variety and that is why he loves doing it. When he’s not behind a cow, he will be working with people’s pets. He is married to Carin, they have two school-going children, three dogs, three cats, two chickens and three fish.  

Support Staff   

Our support team consists of two receptionists [ Heneley Audie and Mariëtte Wessels],  one receptionist/theatre assistant [Madelein Matthee], a secretary [Estelle Arendt]  and three cleaners/kennel hands [Patrick Boesak, Katrina Goosen, Sam Augustinus and Margaret Sobele ].