Some people discover their calling later in life. Antoinette De Jeso knew hers as a child. For more than three decades she has devoted her life to caring for the elderly and the sick — and today she leads a healthcare company that does exactly that, every day. This year, she is being honoured at the Influential Awards 2026 – Cape Town Region.

A calling that started young

Antoinette was born in Krugersdorp and grew up in Sasolburg, completing her schooling at Sasolburg High School in 1983. From a young age she had an immense passion for caring for the elderly and the sick, and that passion led her straight into nursing.

She trained as a Registered Nurse at Sasolburg Provincial Hospital, laying the foundation for a nursing career that now spans more than 30 years.

From one small clinic to a comprehensive healthcare company

In 2017, Antoinette fulfilled a lifelong dream. Together with her partner, Alex De Jeso, she opened her own practice — a small wound care clinic in West Beach, Cape Town.

It didn’t stay small for long. What began as a single clinic has grown into a comprehensive healthcare company caring for people from all walks of life. Alongside wound care and other nursing services, the practice now offers:

• Assisted living
• Home care
• Frail care
• Palliative care

Care, by the numbers

Today, Antoinette and her team care for more than 40 elderly patients and over 120 wound care patients every month, supported by a team of 70 staff who share her vision.

Just as importantly, the practice gives back. Antoinette and her team provide pro bono care for people who can’t afford medical expenses — making sure that quality care isn’t only for those who can pay for it.

Raising the standard of the profession

Antoinette’s commitment to nursing extends well beyond her own practice. She serves as an Executive Committee member of the Society of Private Nurse Practitioners of SA, and is a member of the Stoma Association of South Africa and the Wound Healing Association of Southern Africa (WHASA).

She is also involved in private practice training, and trains caregivers to provide care in the community — multiplying her impact through every person she teaches.

Why Antoinette De Jeso is Influential

The Influential Awards honour South Africans whose impact reaches far beyond their own success. Antoinette’s story is one of a childhood dream, pursued with dedication for over 30 years and built into a company that now cares for well over a hundred patients a month, employs 70 people, and still makes room for those who can’t afford care.

Antoinette will be honoured at the Influential Awards 2026 – Cape Town, taking place on Sunday, 29 November 2026 at the Joseph Stone Auditorium, Athlone.

Congratulations, Antoinette — and thank you for a lifetime of care.