Member Profiles
In 2025, Drs Alberts, Bouwer & Jordaan (ABJ) is celebrating 30 years as one of the leading oncology practices in South Africa. ABJ has practices in Gauteng and in the North West Province.
Ronelle de Klerk, Oncology Counsellor Manager Wilgers Oncology Centre, Pretoria
Ronelle started her career as a social worker in 1987 and gained experience across a broad spectrum of service delivery settings, including NPOs, private healthcare, and private practice. At ABJ, she is responsible for the psychosocial care of patients and their families, as well as staff wellbeing.
She holds a master’s degree in Social Work with specialisation in Loss and Trauma from the University of the Free State. Her research focused on the impact of trauma on the marital relationship. Ronelle is a certified Imago Relationship Therapist and workshop presenter.
As an avid supporter of animal-assisted therapy, Ronelle enjoys facilitating the TOP Dogs visits to the ABJ patients at Wilgers Oncology.
She holds a master’s degree in Social Work with specialisation in Loss and Trauma from the University of the Free State. Her research focused on the impact of trauma on the marital relationship. Ronelle is a certified Imago Relationship Therapist and workshop presenter.
As an avid supporter of animal-assisted therapy, Ronelle enjoys facilitating the TOP Dogs visits to the ABJ patients at Wilgers Oncology.
Juanita Kruger, Oncology Social Worker Wilgers Oncology Centre, Pretoria
Juanita joined ABJ’s interdisciplinary team in February 2023. She offers psychosocial support to inpatients and their families. In addition, she helps with discharge planning and referring patients to community resources.
After Juanita had attained her master’s degree in Social Work, she worked as a Hospice Social Worker and later Psychosocial Manager at Sungardens Hospice where her passion for palliative care was ignited. When she is not working hard at ABJ, Juanita is diligently pursuing her PhD entitled The Sustainability of Hospice Care in South Africa: A Social Work Perspective.
At Wilgers Oncology, ABJ’s patients have access to the monthly workshops presented by the Look Good Feel Better Foundation.
After Juanita had attained her master’s degree in Social Work, she worked as a Hospice Social Worker and later Psychosocial Manager at Sungardens Hospice where her passion for palliative care was ignited. When she is not working hard at ABJ, Juanita is diligently pursuing her PhD entitled The Sustainability of Hospice Care in South Africa: A Social Work Perspective.
At Wilgers Oncology, ABJ’s patients have access to the monthly workshops presented by the Look Good Feel Better Foundation.
Cecile Booth, Oncology Social Worker Benoni Oncology Centre
Cecile has a deep commitment to supporting patients and their families facing the challenges of cancer. Her passion lies in palliative care; she believes in the power of passionate, holistic support throughout the illness journey. In pursuit of this passion, she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine at the University of Cape Town in 2015, followed by a Master of Philosophy in Palliative Medicine in 2021.
Benoni Oncology Centre is an interdisciplinary practice dedicated to providing personalised, patient-centred cancer care. Cecile works closely with patients and their families, integrating psychosocial support into their treatment plans and helping them navigate the emotional and practical complexities of a cancer diagnosis.
Benoni Oncology Centre is an interdisciplinary practice dedicated to providing personalised, patient-centred cancer care. Cecile works closely with patients and their families, integrating psychosocial support into their treatment plans and helping them navigate the emotional and practical complexities of a cancer diagnosis.
Hedri Powell, Oncology Social Worker Vereeniging Oncology Centre
As an experienced and compassionate Social Worker, Hedri has been supporting patients and their families for over three decades. After earning her BA Social Sciences (SW) degree in 1992, she began her career at South Rand Hospital in Johannesburg where she gained valuable experience in the medical, psychiatric, paediatrics and rehabilitation wards. She was also involved in trauma support.
In 2000, Hedri joined the Vaal Triangle Oncology Unit where she continues to serve as a dedicated Oncology Social Worker.
Known for her warm, empathetic approach, Hedri is a member of the interdisciplinary team providing holistic patient-centred care. She is deeply committed to supporting patients and their families through the emotional, practical, and psychological challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
In 2000, Hedri joined the Vaal Triangle Oncology Unit where she continues to serve as a dedicated Oncology Social Worker.
Known for her warm, empathetic approach, Hedri is a member of the interdisciplinary team providing holistic patient-centred care. She is deeply committed to supporting patients and their families through the emotional, practical, and psychological challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
Anita Garbers, Oncology Social Worker Klerksdorp Oncology Centre
Anita has gained extensive experience across various fields within the social work profession since graduating with a Social Work degree from North-West University in 1994.
She began her career in a family care environment before taking on the role of therapist at an addiction rehabilitation centre. Anita also worked in the child and youth care sector, both as Social Worker and later as the manager of a Child and Youth Care Centre, a position she held for nine years.
In 2016, she transitioned into the healthcare sector where she has been providing psychosocial support to patients and their families as they navigate the challenges of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
She began her career in a family care environment before taking on the role of therapist at an addiction rehabilitation centre. Anita also worked in the child and youth care sector, both as Social Worker and later as the manager of a Child and Youth Care Centre, a position she held for nine years.
In 2016, she transitioned into the healthcare sector where she has been providing psychosocial support to patients and their families as they navigate the challenges of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Alberts Cellular Therapy (ACT), a division of ABJ, is the largest haematology oncology practice in Africa. It is the first haematopoietic stem cell transplant unit in Africa to be accredited by JACIE (Europe's official certification body for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation).
Avril de Beer, Oncology Social Worker ACT, Netcare Pretoria East Hospital
After changing careers in her late 30s, Avril qualified as a Social Worker in 2011. Her two-year stint as a Hospice Social Worker at Sungardens Hospice prepared her for the role of an Oncology Social Worker at ACT’s haematopoietic stem cell transplant unit in Pretoria. As a member of the interdisciplinary stem cell transplant team for the past nine years, she advocates for patients’ rights ensuring that they receive the necessary information to make informed decisions.
Avril is responsible for the psychosocial care of inpatients and outpatients with haematological cancers. In addition to her work at ACT, Avril has a private practice where she provides counselling to teenagers and adults.
Vera Lepheana, Oncology Social Worker ACT, Netcare Pretoria East Hospital
At a young age, Vera knew that she wanted to spend the rest of her life helping people. She attained her Social Work degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2010. In 2011, she started her career at Child Welfare in Emalahleni where she focused on statutory work. In 2013, she joined CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA as a Social Worker in the paediatric oncology ward at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
In 2020, she widened her horizons and joined the ACT team where she offers psychosocial services to both inpatients and outpatients. Vera is a firm believer in patient advocacy – every patient should be treated with dignity from diagnosis to survivorship or end-of-life care.
In 2020, she widened her horizons and joined the ACT team where she offers psychosocial services to both inpatients and outpatients. Vera is a firm believer in patient advocacy – every patient should be treated with dignity from diagnosis to survivorship or end-of-life care.
