Meet the Team
Meet our expert cardiologists and their dedicated team providing complete, patient-centred cardiac care in the Cape Winelands.
Dr Tjaart Venter
Interventional Cardiologist
Dr Tjaart Venter is an accomplished Interventional Cardiologist with more than two decades of experience.
Dr Tjaart Venter has a deep passion for improving heart health through the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and a wide range of cardiovascular conditions.
Dr Tjaart Venter is an accomplished interventional cardiologist with more than two decades of experience and a deep-seated passion for diagnosing and treating heart-related illnesses. Born and educated in South Africa, Dr Venter graduated as a Medical Doctor in 1994 at the University of Free State. He furthered his education at the same institution, qualifying as a Specialist Physician in 2001 and then as a Cardiologist in 2003.
His early career saw him establish a thriving cardiology practice at Union Hospital in Johannesburg, Gauteng, between 2004 and 2016. In addition to his cardiology practice, Dr Venter also established Cardiology Clinical Research, which ran a successful contract research program.
In 2017, Dr Venter relocated to Somerset West, taking over the practice of the legendary Dr Tom Mabin at Vergelegen Mediclinic.
Dr Venter’s expertise spans a wide range of cardiac procedures and treatments. He specializes in complex coronary interventions, including multivessel disease, left mainstem interventions, bifurcation lesions, atherectomy and primary PCI. His proficiency extends to TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation), Sentinel brain embolic protection device implant, Left Atrial Appendage Closure (as Watchman operator and proctor), and PFO and ASD closure.
Joining him in Cape town, is his long standing technologist, Chantelle Brand. She assists him in the rooms and in theatre . They make a dynamic duo at the front lines spanning over 17 years (and counting!) together in the ranks of cardiology in south Africa.
In addition to these specialized procedures, Dr Venter also practices as a general cardiologist, managing acute and chronic heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and cardiovascular risk. He also manages device treatment of arrhythmias at a non-EP level, which includes pacemaker implants, including CRT and ICD systems.
Now expanded and rebranded as Winelands Cardiology, the practice offers a comprehensive range of cardiological interventions and care, attracting patients from the Helderberg basin, the Overberg, the Boland, Namibia, South Africa, Mauritius and Europe.
Dr Venter’s commitment to continued medical education extends beyond his practice. He co-founded the non-profit organisation, Winelands Heart Foundation, which supports doctors, technologists, and nursing staff to attend educational meetings. This initiative is extended to Fellows in academic institutions, providing them with opportunities to interact with world-leading experts.
Dr Venter is an active participant in local and international conferences, focusing on interventional and structural heart meetings. He has presented at various professional gatherings, including the SA Heart Conference and the World Physicians Conference.
Dr Jacques Liebenberg
Interventional Cardiologist
Dr Jacques Liebenberg is a dedicated cardiologist and heart specialist committed to advancing the field of cardiac medicine.
His areas of expertise include interventional cardiology, complex coronary intervention, structural heart disease interventions, cardiac imaging, and the management of heart failure and cardiovascular disease.
“He seldom reflects on the troubled days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.” King Solomon
Dr Jacques Liebenberg was born and raised in the platteland town of Bonnievale and began his medical training at Stellenbosch University, where he graduated MBChB Cum Laude in 2012. He was awarded the highest aggregate mark in his final year. He completed his internship and community service at Kimberley Hospital between 2013 and 2015, gaining broad experience in acute and general medicine, before serving as a Medical Officer at Worcester Hospital in 2016.
He went on to specialise in Internal Medicine as a Registrar at Tygerberg Hospital from 2017 to 2020, during which time he completed both his FCP (SA) and MMed (Internal Medicine), graduating Cum Laude. His growing interest in cardiovascular disease led him to further subspecialise in Cardiology at Tygerberg Hospital from 2020 to 2023. By 2023, he had obtained his Cert. Cardiology (SA) and MPhil (Cardiology), again Cum Laude. Dr Liebenberg has published more than 15 peer-reviewed scientific papers and regularly presents at both local and international cardiology conferences.
Dr Liebenberg provides comprehensive care across the full spectrum of cardiovascular disease, including arrhythmias, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and structural heart disease. His interventional expertise includes complex coronary interventions and acute coronary care, where timely procedures can be life-saving. He is a signed-off TAVI operator on all commercially available transcatheter aortic valve platforms, a Watchman™ left atrial appendage closure operator and proctor, and a Rotablation proctor. His specific clinical interests include structural heart interventions and CTO PCI (chronic total occlusion interventions). He is deeply committed to preventative cardiology, focusing on cardiovascular risk assessment, early detection of disease, and long-term lifestyle-based risk modification.
Now part of Winelands Cardiology at Mediclinic Vergelegen, Dr Liebenberg works closely with Dr Tjaart Venter in a collaborative, team-based practice focused on innovation and patient-centred care. He is supported by Ms Elrike Hugo, a qualified clinical technologist, in performing specialised investigations and procedures. Outside of medicine, Dr Liebenberg is a devoted husband and father of two, and enjoys spending time with his family, particularly boating and fishing. Known for his calm, compassionate approach, he combines technical excellence with genuine care, earning the trust of both patients and colleagues alike.
Our Team Members
Practice Manager
Johlene is our practice manager and is responsible for the practice accounts at Winelands Cardiology.
She walks the extra mile to assist patients with knowledge regarding their medical schemes’ payment structures.
Johlene is experienced in assisting our patients with applying for chronic benefits for cardiovascular disease and heart conditions.
Accounts
Marelize manages the practice’s accounts and liaises with medical schemes and patients to resolve any payment issues.
She has a true passion for helping patients and goes above and beyond to offer assistance whenever possible.
Cardiac ICU nursing sister
Sune is a qualified cardiac ICU nursing sister.
She is the primary contact for medical queries and prescription renewals at Winelands Cardiology where patients cannot, due to circumstances, get to see their cardiologist.
She also makes personal contact with patients awaiting theatre procedures.
Clinical Technologist
Chantell is a qualified and experienced clinical technologist.
She assists Dr Venter in performing special investigations and procedures in the consulting rooms and in theatre.
Clinical Technologist
Elrike is a qualified and experienced clinical technologist.
She assists Dr Liebenberg in performing special investigations and procedures.
Elrike has a special interest in implantable cardiac devices such as a pacemaker.
Sue Jane is responsible for theatre bookings and assists patients with obtaining authorisation for their procedures. She ensures that all logistics related to hospital admissions are in order.
As our TAVI coordinator, Sue Jane plays a key role in the seamless planning and execution of TAVI procedures, handling all the behind-the-scenes work to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Receptionist
Joelin (known affectionately as JoJo) works alongside Cobie at the Winelands Cardiology frontline.
JoJo handles the fast-paced environment of a busy cardiology practice with grace and professionalism, coordinating appointments and assisting patients with kindness and respect.
Her genuine interest in people and her positive attitude help set the tone for the compassionate care our patients experience throughout their visit.
Receptionist
Always trying to put a smile on her patients’ faces, Cobie lives by the rule, “A happy heart promotes healing.”
She will assist you with making your appointment.
Having worked in the Cardiology ward for some time, Cobie treats patients with a dual perspective.
Her understanding of the patients’ needs both clinical and in the Doctors rooms enables her to serve the patients optimally.
Other Heart Health Experts
At Winelands Cardiology, we believe that exceptional heart care depends on collaboration. Our patients benefit from our relationships with a multidisciplinary team of cardiovascular disease experts, each bringing specialised knowledge in their respective fields.
Dr Andre Philips
Cardiac Anesthetist and transesophageal echocardiography expert
Dr Barry Barnard
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Dr Adele Greyling
Electrophysiologist
Dr Pieter Zwanepoel
Vascular surgeon
We also work with allied health professionals and providers of home and hospice care.
This integrated approach ensures that every patient receives comprehensive, evidence-based treatment tailored to their unique needs.