De Waterkant

Wimpie van der Meijden | BSc Physiotherapy (University of the Pretoria)

Clinical Focus: Post-operative rehabilitation · Sports physiotherapy

Wimpie graduated as a physiotherapist from the University of Pretoria and gained extensive experience in private practices in Bloemfontein. He served as the dedicated locum physiotherapist for the Free State Cheetahs rugby union. Passionate about sports rehabilitation, Wimpie co-founded WP Physios Milnerton, specializing in sports-related injuries and muscle imbalances. In 2016, he co-founded WP Physiotherapists Tokai, extending services to the southern suburbs and hospital patients at Melomed Tokai private hospital.

Nazreena Hassim | B.Sc in Physiotherapy (University of Cape Town)

Clinical Focus: Post-operative rehabilitation · Sports physiotherapy · Breastfeeding Rehabilitation

Nazreena gained invaluable experience at Groote Schuur Hospital before moving to the UK, where she specialized in ICU and respiratory work at Southampton General Hospital and later in outpatient physiotherapy at Barking Hospital. Nazreena holds certifications in Pilates, acupuncture, and various taping courses. Returning to South Africa in 2006, she has been active in women's health, serving as the Treasurer for the SASP Women's Health Group and working as a clinical supervisor and lecturer at UCT. Her hobbies include spending time with her family, Pilates, gym, reading, and watching movies and series.

Physiotherapy

Personalized treatment plans for optimal recovery and mobility.

Sports Massage Therapy

Specialized care for athletic recovery and performance enhancement.

Laser Therapy

Advanced light therapy for pain relief and tissue regeneration.

Pilates

Strengthening and flexibility exercises for total body conditioning.

Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation

Specialized care for pelvic floor health and recovery. Available in Tokai only.

Shockwave Therapy

Non-invasive treatment for chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions.

Dry Needling

A therapeutic technique to find trigger points to relieve muscle pain and improve functionality.

Strapping

Support and stability for injured muscles and joints.

Physios @ Home

Convenient in-home physiotherapy services tailored to your needs.

Christine Goliath | BSc Physiotherapy (University of Cape Town)

Clinical Focus: Post-operative rehabilitation · Sports physiotherapy · Home-based & mobile physiotherapy · Outpatient rehabilitation

Christine is a physiotherapist who believes that great treatment should be as enjoyable as it is effective — and her patients would agree. A UCT graduate with experience across mobile and home-based physiotherapy, acute hospital care, and outpatient rehabilitation, Christine brings both clinical versatility and infectious energy to every session.

Her approach is grounded in evidence-based practice, but it’s her ability to connect with people that truly defines her care. Whether she’s working with post-operative patients, athletes navigating injuries, or individuals managing everyday aches and pains, Christine tailors her treatment to the person in front of her — practical, thoughtful, and always with a good sense of humour close at hand.

Outside the clinic, Christine is deeply active. She plays football, surfs, and embraces the outdoors with the same enthusiasm she brings to her work. That lived experience of sport and movement informs her rehabilitation philosophy: stay curious, keep moving, and never underestimate what the body is capable of.

Christine has a natural gift for putting people at ease, and her patients consistently leave feeling supported, motivated, and genuinely glad they came.

Ethan Marais | BSc Physiotherapy (University of Cape Town)

Clinical Focus: Post-operative rehabilitation · Sports physiotherapy · Acute hospital care · Return-to-sport programmes

Ethan is the kind of physiotherapist who makes a difficult recovery feel manageable — and sometimes, even enjoyable. A UCT graduate with experience in both acute hospital care and outpatient rehabilitation, Ethan has cultivated a particular passion for post-operative recovery and sports physiotherapy, helping patients return to the activities they love with both confidence and function.

His clinical approach is calm, thorough, and deeply empathetic. Ethan takes the time to understand each patient’s goals and challenges before crafting treatment plans that are evidence-based, practical, and honest. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing a sports injury, or working to optimise performance, he is committed to guiding you through every step — at your pace.

Patients often comment on Ethan’s steady, reassuring manner: the kind of presence that makes even the more challenging moments feel less daunting. His warm smile, easy-going nature, and genuine care for the people he treats create an experience that keeps patients coming back — not just for the treatment, but for the environment he creates around it.

Away from the clinic, you’ll most likely find Ethan in the ocean, chasing waves or exploring the coastline — a reflection of the active, outdoor lifestyle that fuels his passion for helping others stay moving.

Chantalle Steenkamp | BSc Physiotherapy (University of Cape Town, 2017)

Clinical Focus: Intensive care & high care rehabilitation · Neurological physiotherapy · Respiratory physiotherapy · Acute orthopaedic care

Chantalle is a physiotherapist who thrives where the stakes are highest. Since graduating from UCT in 2017, she has dedicated her career to the acute hospital environment — and for the past six years, she has specialised in high care, ICU, and general ward rehabilitation, guiding patients through the critical early stages of recovery from complex illness and injury.

Her journey began in the rural town of Schweizer-Reneke, where she completed her community service before staying on for an additional year to provide outreach services to the wider community. That formative experience gave Chantalle a rare depth of clinical exposure — managing neurological, respiratory, and orthopaedic conditions in resource-limited settings — and shaped her into a physiotherapist who adapts, problem-solves, and delivers.

Today, Chantalle brings that same resourcefulness and grit to the fast-paced ICU environment she calls her clinical home. She partners with each patient to create individualised recovery pathways, combining rigorous evidence-based techniques with genuine human care. Watching a patient regain independence after acute illness is, in her words, what fuels her dedication every single day.

When she’s not on the hospital floor, Chantalle is out on the trails, immersed in a good book, or recharging with her family and beloved pets — a reminder that recovery and restoration matter just as much outside the clinic as within it.

Saarah Cader | BSc Physiotherapy, MSc Physiotherapy (University of the Western Cape)

Clinical Focus: Sports physiotherapy · Functional rehabilitation · Acute hospital care · Post-injury return to sport

Saarah is a physiotherapist who brings both academic excellence and genuine warmth to every session. A proud graduate of the University of the Western Cape, she has built her experience across acute hospital care, rehabilitation, and outpatient physiotherapy — and recently added a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy to her credentials, cementing her commitment to staying at the forefront of evidence-based practice.

Her clinical passion lies in sports physiotherapy and functional rehabilitation. Whether she’s working with competitive athletes, weekend warriors, or individuals recovering from injury or surgery, Saarah’s focus is consistent: restore movement, build strength, and get people back to doing what they love. She is particularly skilled at bridging the gap between recovery and performance, tailoring programmes that are goal-oriented, evidence-informed, and built around each person’s unique needs and lifestyle.

Saarah believes the best results come from collaboration. She creates a space where patients feel truly heard, motivated, and empowered — because she knows that rehabilitation isn’t something done to you, it’s something achieved together.

Outside the practice, Saarah is happiest outdoors — whether on a leisurely family walk or tackling a rewarding hike. On rainy days (she’ll admit sunshine is preferred), you’ll find her wrapped up with a good true-crime documentary or series. Her warm, approachable nature in the clinic reflects the same person you’d meet on a trail: curious, encouraging, and genuinely invested in the people around her.

Umar Jacobs | BSc Physiotherapy, MSc Sports Injury Surveillance

Clinical Focus: High-performance sports physiotherapy · Lower limb rehabilitation · ACL & tendon reconstruction · Pitch-side care

Umar is a sports physiotherapist with elite-level experience and a deeply personal understanding of what it means to push the body to its limits — and bring it back stronger. Based at our Gardens practice, he holds a Master’s degree in sports injury surveillance and has accumulated extensive pitch-side experience working with some of South Africa’s top sporting teams, including Western Province Cricket, UFS Sport, and SA Ice Hockey.

His clinical speciality lies in high-performance lower limb rehabilitation. Using objective dynamometer testing and gold-standard protocols, Umar manages some of the most complex recoveries in sport — ACL reconstructions, Achilles tendon repairs, and lateral ankle surgeries — with the precision and patience these injuries demand. His rehabilitation programmes are built on measurable milestones, not guesswork, and athletes leave his care knowing they’ve been cleared to return to peak performance safely.

As an avid distance runner and football player himself, Umar doesn’t just understand sport theoretically — he lives it. That shared experience means athletes in his care feel seen, not just assessed. He knows what it takes to get back to the game, and he’s committed to getting you there.

Jack Alt | BSc Physiotherapy (University of Cape Town, 2022)

Clinical Focus: Orthopaedic rehabilitation · Post-surgical recovery · Sports physiotherapy · Lower limb rehabilitation · Dry needling · Taping · NeuroThrive

Jack’s path into physiotherapy is one he knows from both sides of the treatment table. In 2018, a serious ACL rupture and bilateral meniscus repair gave him first-hand experience of the recovery journey — the frustration, the milestones, and the difference a great physio can make. That experience didn’t just shape his outlook; it defined his career. He graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BSc in Physiotherapy in 2022, and has been building on that foundation ever since.

His clinical focus centres on orthopaedic rehabilitation and post-surgical recovery, with a particular interest in lower limb conditions — the area he knows most intimately. After graduating, Jack gained valuable outpatient experience in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), where he deepened his skills in both orthopaedic and sports injury management. He has since expanded his technical toolkit with certifications in dry needling, taping, and NeuroThrive, equipping him to offer a well-rounded, evidence-informed approach to rehabilitation.

Outside the clinic, Jack is as active as they come. He trail runs, road runs, plays hockey and football, and surfs — which means he brings genuine enthusiasm and personal insight to treating the kinds of injuries that sideline people from the sports they love. If you’re working to get back to something that matters to you, Jack understands that drive better than most.

Candice Leeuwendaal | BSc Physiotherapy (in progress: MSc Exercise & Sports Physiotherapy, UCT)

Clinical Focus: Sports physiotherapy · Post-operative rehabilitation · Knee injuries · Soft tissue (muscle & tendon) injuries · Elite rugby physiotherapy

Candice is a sports physiotherapist with a story that’s deeply personal — and that’s exactly what makes her exceptional. Having experienced numerous injuries and operations herself, she has a first-hand understanding of the frustration, vulnerability, and determination that comes with recovery. That lived experience shapes every treatment plan she designs and every patient she works with.

Her clinical interests centre on post-operative rehabilitation and returning athletes to the sport they love, with a particular focus on knee injuries and soft tissue conditions — including muscular and tendon tears. She is currently completing her Master’s degree in Exercise and Sports Physiotherapy at UCT, ensuring her practice stays firmly grounded in the latest evidence.

Outside of WP Physiotherapy, Candice serves as part of the Stormers Rugby physiotherapist team — a role that speaks to both her elite-level clinical competence and her deep love for the game. She is, by her own admission, fanatical about rugby and thrives in the high-stakes, adrenaline-driven environment it brings.

When she’s not on the rugby field or in the clinic, Candice is running, training for Hyrox, or hunting down her next great meal. She brings the same drive and passion to everything she does — and her patients feel it in every session.

Jason Cohen | BSc (Honours) Physiotherapy (University of the Witwatersrand, 2016)

Clinical Focus: Sports physiotherapy · Pre-season screening · Elite-level performance · Dry needling · Strapping & taping techniques

With nearly a decade of clinical experience across elite sport and community practice, Jason is a physiotherapist who knows what high performance demands — and what it takes to keep athletes in the game. A Wits graduate, his career spans some impressive environments: pre-season screening with Orlando Pirates FC, school-level rugby and soccer programmes, and serving as lead physiotherapist for Maccabi’s futsal, running, and tennis teams.

Jason’s technical skillset includes additional certifications in dry needling and advanced strapping techniques — tools he uses with precision to complement his evidence-based approach to rehabilitation and performance. At WP Physio De Waterkant, he combines that elite-sport background with genuine care for every patient who walks through the door, whether they’re a professional athlete or an enthusiastic amateur.

When he’s not in the clinic, Jason is on the golf course — which might explain the steady hands and methodical thinking he brings to everything he does.

Jessica Hirschowitz | BPhysio with Distinction (University of Pretoria), Stott Pilates Certified

Clinical Focus: Musculoskeletal rehabilitation · Hip, shoulder & knee rehabilitation · Pilates-based rehabilitation · Sports physiotherapy · Paediatric & adult populations

Jess is a physiotherapist who blends clinical rigour with a genuine commitment to knowing each patient as an individual. She graduated from the University of Pretoria with distinction — and her standards haven’t dropped since. During her studies, she gained hands-on experience with the Blue Bulls professional rugby team, before going on to complete her community service in rural KwaZulu-Natal and ultimately relocating to Cape Town to join WP Physiotherapy.

Her clinical focus is musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and she has invested significantly in her continuing education to deepen that expertise. She holds advanced course certifications in hip, shoulder, and knee rehabilitation, and is a Stott Pilates-certified instructor — a qualification she achieved with a 91% average, which she now puts to use teaching Pilates to private clients at Breath Barre in Sea Point.

Jess has worked with athletes across rugby, tennis, dance, and running, as well as children and general adult populations. What unites her work across those groups is a commitment to individualised, meaningful care — the belief that every patient deserves not just a treatment plan, but a physiotherapist who is genuinely invested in their progress.