“On behalf of the staff and management of Netcare Garden City Hospital, we wish to convey our deepest condolences to Dr Viljoen’s wife Sandra, his sons Gerrit and Hein, and his daughters Marina, Luré and Arden. Our sympathies also go out to his loved ones, friends and colleagues,” says Jacques du Plessis, managing director of Netcare’s hospital division.

Born in Leyden in the Netherlands in 1955, Dr Viljoen’s family relocated to South Africa when he was a child. After high school, he first pursued a BA Law degree, then earned his Honours in Latin before studying medicine through the then-University of the Orange Free State (UOFS) and completing his MBChB with a distinction in psychiatry in 1983. 

Dr Viljoen then trained in Internal Medicine at the Universitas and Pelonomi academic hospitals. There he attained experience with sub-specialities including clinical haematology, pulmonology, cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, nephrology and rheumatology. Once qualified, he worked in the Department of Internal Medicine in Bloemfontein as a physician while sub-specialising in nephrology.

Later, as head of the Department of Nephrology at UOFS, Dr Viljoen was instrumental in training the next generation of medical professionals and leaves behind a strong academic legacy. Having authored numerous academic articles and presented papers at international conferences, Dr Viljoen greatly contributed to the field of nephrology and meaningfully touched the lives of many thousands of patients who benefitted from his considerable expertise over decades of service. 

“Dr Viljoen participated in over 600 kidney and 25 combined pancreas-kidney transplants during his career. His passing is an immense loss to the Netcare family and his fellow specialists, and he will be greatly missed,” Du Plessis concluded.