25/05/2026
Dear Patients,
Where does one even begin after so many years of life shared together…
Before anything else, thank you. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of becoming part of your stories, your homes, your families and your journeys over all these years. Somewhere along the way our practice became far more than consultations, prescriptions and medical files, it became people, relationships and a community deeply connected through life itself.
Over the years we have laughed together and cried together. We have celebrated new life entering the world and stood together through moments of heartbreak and loss. We watched children start school, matriculate and graduate. Some little ones who once sat nervously in the consultation room (waiting to be bribed by me with a sticker or a lollipop), spoke about wanting to become “Dr Pedro” one day… and now some of them have graduated themselves, pursuing dreams and careers of their own. In many ways, watching so many of you grow has inspired me to continue growing too.
Through every season, the beautiful, the difficult, the exhausting and the joyful, this community gave me purpose every single day. Even on the tired days, your kindness, trust and support always reminded me why being a GP mattered so deeply.
As in life, every chapter eventually gives way to another. And after much prayer and reflection, the time has come for me to spread my wings a little and embrace new opportunities and experiences ahead. With this in mind, the practice will be transitioning over time under the capable care of Dr Andre van der Westhuizen who will continue consulting from the practice and gradually become another familiar face within the practice. Dr Fernando Adams who started with us in January, continues in the practice.
Over time, I have come to appreciate the importance of ensuring that you, our patients, continue to feel supported, cared for and medically guided within an environment you know and trust, and it is with this in mind that this transition has been approached.
The practice will continue operating from the same location, with the same support staff and ongoing commitment to compassionate and quality healthcare with a human touch!
While you may begin seeing new faces at the practice over time, the heart behind what we have built together remains unchanged.
More than anything, I want to encourage you to continue supporting the practice we have built together over the years. Please continue making this your place of trust, your place of care and your medical home for many years still to come.
What has made our practice special was never one individual alone, but rather the institution, relationships and culture of care that all of us: staff, patients and families alike created together. There is a Zulu proverb which I love, “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu” which translates, “a person is a person through other people.” This has truly defined my journey and will continue to define all of us at the practice.
Thank you for the trust, kindness and support you’ve shown me and our practice family over the years. It has been, and will always remain, a privilege to serve the Kuilsriver community and to walk many journeys of health and life together.
As one chapter closes, another begins, and I remain deeply grateful for the years we shared together. I trust that the practice will continue serving this community with the same care and dedication that has always remained close to my heart.
With sincere gratitude and much love,
Darren Pedro
