The Team

James van Vught (BA; BSocSc (Hons); LLB; LLM(Tax); MBA, UCT)

James joined Old Mutual as CEO of Caremed Medical Scheme (later rebranded as Oxygen) in 2000. Here he fulfilled various industry roles, including Director of the

Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF), and Audit Committee Member of the Old Mutual Staff Medical Aid.

After seven years specialising in healthcare funding, James joined Netcare as a Hospital Manager. This was followed by a role as CEO of Ibn Al-Nafees Hospital in Bahrain. As CEO for The Bank Hospital in Ghana, West Africa, James was part of the commissioning team.

Armed with more than two decades’ experience in business management, augmented by a deep interest and training in human resources, sales and marketing, business strategy and planning, financial modelling, process reengineering and change management, James launched Edge Health in 2022.

George Schutte (BA LLB University of Pretoria; MBA Cum Laude, Health Strategic Planning, Stellenbosch University)

George entered the healthcare industry as soon as he graduated, moving from funding to supplier management. He worked for MediClinic for 18 years before expanding his CV with international posts (including HNA Health, Haikou, China; VMS, Abu Dhabi; Samaya, Abu Dhabi; Lifeline Healthcare Group, Dubai).

The services George specialises in include Hospital Pre-Commissioning Project Management; Hospital Management Consultancy, and Training for Hospital Executives.

Ridwaan Allie (BCom, UCT)

Ridwaan entered healthcare 30 years ago as Hospital Manager of Melomed Gatesville.

Over the course of his career with Melomed he grew the hospital into the nationally recognised Melomed Hospital Group, and was instrumental in the feasibility, design, construction, commissioning and management of five of the Group’s new hospitals, with a total capacity of over 750 beds.

His role evolved into that of CEO, at the helm of five healthcare facilities in Cape Town and a sixth one in Richards Bay.

Ridwaan’s focus is on financial modelling and facility design.

Chantelle van Vught (Specialist Nurse & Nursing Director, University of Stellenbosch)

For more than 25 years Chantelle has served healthcare facilities, starting with 16 years at the Life Healthcare Group, the second largest hospital group in South Africa, with over 6 500 beds. During this time she completed a myriad of specialised certificates, including Primary Healthcare, Neurosurgery and Medical Law, and was promoted to Nursing Manager before moving to Busamed Hospital Group.

Chantelle has been involved in a number of greenfield projects as well as additions to existing infrastructures, from Emergency Units to Renal Facilities.

She is currently part of the commissioning team of The Bank Hospital, owned by the Reserve Bank of Ghana, where she leads the nursing units as the Nursing Director.

Chantelle’s expertise lies in providing world-class patient care.

Nondwe Ntombizethu Mtimkulu (MBChB (1999), FCOG (2006) (Fellow of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists SA), UCT)

After graduating as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist she was appointed as a part-time lecturer at the University of Cape Town whilst concurrently venturing into private practice.

Over a period of 15 years as a specialist, she developed a special interest in Aesthetic and Functional Gynaecology (inclusive of non-surgical ways of dealing with functional problems like incontinence and sexual dysfunction). She enhanced her knowledge and skills in the subject by attaining a certificate with the South African Aesthetic Gynaecology Society (SAAGS).

She has an overwhelming enthusiasm in continuously developing herself in areas outside her profession. She has a Leadership Certificate from the University of Stellenbosch and an Entrepreneurship Certificate from the Gordon Institute of Business Science.

She is a mother of two boys, a public speaker on matters that affect Women’s Health and Empowerment.