A doctor with deep roots in Belhar has recently started a practice in his hometown because he wanted to give back to the community that shaped him.
Dr Tazwin Geldenhuys says he is a Belharian through and through. “My roots run deep here. I attended Belhar Primary and Belhar High School, and grew up as an active server at All Saints Church. This community shaped exactly who I am today.
“Over the last few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to build valuable experience by establishing and running a medical practice in Eerste River, which is still operating today. But my goal was always to bring that expertise back to where it all began. Opening a practice here isn’t just business; it’s a deeply personal homecoming. I wanted to return to the community that raised me and provide the high-quality, compassionate care our people deserve,” says Geldenhuys.
Spark
He looks back on his days at Belhar High, where the spark for his journey was ignited.
“I was always a curious kid, but it was my biology teacher, Mrs Johanissen, who really channelled that energy. She saw potential in a local kid, tolerated my quirks and pushed me to think bigger. Around the same time, watching shows like Scrubs made me realise medicine wasn’t just about sterile white coats and unapproachable geniuses; it was about being deeply human, finding the grit to laugh through the chaos, and fighting like hell for the people in front of you,” says Geldenhuys.
Outside of work he is just a local guy who loves playing Fortnite to unwind or watching an epic classic film.
“I’ve always loved underdog stories such as The Lord of the Rings, where the smallest, most ordinary characters are the ones who face the biggest, most overwhelming forces and find a way to push through to the very end.
“When patients walk through our doors, I want them to feel as though they are visiting a trusted neighbour. I’m incredibly excited to serve the families of Belhar, catch up with familiar faces and contribute to the health and wellbeing of the place I will always call home,” explains Geldenhuys.
According to Geldenhuys, realising how fascinating the human body is made medicine a perfect fit, but the real driving force was rewriting the narrative. “I wanted to be living proof that people from Belhar are worth more, can achieve more and belong in every room where big things happen. I didn’t just want to study science; I wanted to use it to make a difference in my community and stand firmly in my neighbours’ corner.
“Growing up here teaches you a specific kind of resilience. You see firsthand how neighbours lean on each other, how resourcefulness is a daily practice, and how community spirit thrives even when resources are tight. It grounds you. It means you walk through life without pretence, valuing genuine connection over status.
“Your way of life becomes defined by a sense of accountability to the people around you – a realisation that individual success feels empty unless it is used to lift others up as well. When you practise medicine in the same streets where you grew up, your understanding of health changes entirely. You don’t just see a patient with high blood pressure or diabetes as a clinical case; you see the social realities behind the diagnosis.”
Consultation room
He says health isn’t just about what happens inside a consultation room. “It’s shaped by stress, socio-economic barriers, safety and access. Growing up here gives you a deep, empathetic perspective. You understand the hesitation someone might feel when asking for help, the financial trade-offs families have to make, and the systemic hurdles they face. It turns healthcare from a cold, sterile science into a deeply compassionate partnership. You aren’t just treating symptoms; you’re advocating for the person behind them.”
How does he measure success, coming from an area like Belhar? “The idea that success is measured by how far away you get from your roots is a broken narrative. I never viewed my education as a ticket out; I viewed it as a tool to bring back. If every local kid who gets a degree leaves, we keep our own communities starved of the very skills, resources and leadership they need to thrive.
“Our neighbourhood shaped my future by giving me a concrete mission. This isn’t just about building a career; it’s about challenging the narrative of what Belhar is capable of. My future is dedicated to raising the standard of local healthcare and proving that talent and quality belong here permanently.
“We shouldn’t have to look outside our borders for quality care or major achievements – we are fully capable of building them right here. I came back because I wanted to change the definition of what it means to ‘make it’. Real success isn’t about escaping your neighbourhood – it’s about having the opportunity to leave, but choosing to stay and build right here.”
Standing on shoulders
According to Geldenhuys, he doesn’t feel the weight of being a rolemodel is a burden because he is not carrying it alone. “I’m standing on the shoulders of my parents, teachers and neighbours who built the foundation before me. My goal isn’t to be a solitary hero; it’s to build a blueprint. I want to show young people that you don’t have to change who you are or where you come from to achieve big things.
“If my journey can ignite a spark in just one child from our community to think, ‘If he could do it, why not me?’, then every sacrifice it took to get here will have been completely worth it.” We need more doctors, lawyers and professionals who understand the heartbeat of this community, and I hope I’m just one of many who will come back.”
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