Meet the team

We're animal people

Established in 2005 by Drs Greg Simpson and Alex Rowe, Grabouw Animal Clinic fulfilled the need for a small practice providing veterinary services in the Elgin Valley.

Dr Michelle Lawrance joined the practice in 2013. Soon afterwards, renovations to this small practice upgraded it to a clinic that is able to provide modern, effective compassionate and professional care to all our clients and patients.

Grabouw Animal Clinic has grown to be an integral part of a thriving and dynamic community. As a fruit farming community, we weather all seasons and celebrate harvests with our clients.

Grabouw Animal Clinic is closely associated with our two sister practices, Villiersdorp Animal Clinic and Hermanus Animal Hospital, which also runs a smaller practice in Onrus at The Trading Post shopping centre.

These are under the same ownership, allowing us to expand our options available to clients, enlarge our area of service and provide continuity of treatment should you travel with your pet to these towns and surrounds for the weekend.

Each practice has a vet shop where clients can buy veterinary-quality pet food, toys and treats, bedding, grooming accessories and so on.

Meet the team below… Click or tap on a photo.

Michelle & Ben

Dr Michelle Lawrance, Owner, Veterinary Surgeon, Animal Person

After more than 20 years in this profession, I can still say that I love getting up to go to work. Growing up in a very medical family, I have developed a special interest in surgery. I really enjoy the journeys I get to walk with owners and their pets. Being accepted into the local community and investing time in people make me happy. When not at work I'm usually up a mountain with my dogs, cycling, planning my next adventure or enjoying precious time with family/friends.

Greg & Columbia

Dr Greg Simpson, Owner, Veterinary Surgeon, Animal Person

I qualified from Onderstepoort and ventured to the UK to gain experience as a small and mixed animal practitioner in a variety of clinical settings. There I attended a talk about development work in Kyrgyzstan, which lead me to conduct an in-country study on their veterinary services. I got pulled back to the UK to assist with controlling the foot and mouth outbreak. My interest in development led to a Master’s in Public Health in Developing Countries and later HIV testing infrastructure research.

Too much time behind computers took me back to clinical veterinary science and assisting opening the Grabouw Animal Clinic in 2005. After a few years building the clinic, I completed a Master’s in Wildlife Management and went to do research on human and wildlife conflict in the Limpopo National Park. An encounter with a lecturer from the University of Pretoria led me to start a training clinic for their veterinary students in a village called Hluvukani - an amazing experience as a veterinarian in a setting with diverse infectious diseases, and teaching students to function with limited resources. Working as a lecturer, I completed a PhD in infectious diseases and gained wildlife experience. Yet, my yearning for the Cape led me back to develop a Wildlife Forensic Academy and to grow the Grabouw, Villiersdorp and later Hermanus and Onrus Animal Clinics with Dr Michelle Lawrance. I am passionate about conservation, education and building veterinary clinics that are of value to our society and animals.

Johan & Hunter

Johan Viljoen, Veterinarian, Animal Person

Dr Johan Viljoen qualified as a veterinarian in 2019 at the University of Pretoria and completed his CCS year in Lady Grey, Eastern Cape. After five years at Overberg Veterinary Hospital in Caledon, the town where he grew up, he joined Hermanus Animal Hospital in 2025.

He is passionate about production animal work, especially small stock, and has a special interest in small animal surgery. Dr Viljoen enjoys building long-term relationships with clients and their animals and is committed to providing compassionate, high-quality veterinary care.

When he’s not in the hospital or on farms, you’ll most likely find him on a bicycle. He is a dedicated cyclist, competing in the WP road league at an elite level and taking part in gravel races across the province.

Lente & Sassy

Lente Coetzee, Veterinary Surgeon, Animal Person

From a young age Dr Lente’s family frequented national parks in SA, specifically the Kruger. One could argue that this is where her love for animals evolved. Dr Lente, however, believes that God placed that passion in her heart; she was born with it.
She grew up on a game farm in KwaZulu-Natal and her dream of becoming a veterinarian never wavered. Lente spent many an early morning hour bottle-feeding orphaned lambs, kids, calves and wildlife. Dr Lente excelled at high school, becoming head girl and receiving the Dux achiever’s award for all 5 years. She graduated cum laude from Onderstepoort, then served her compulsory community service year in Mogwase, North West in 2023. Here she was privileged to engage with the community, assist in healing the sick and injured animals and teach communal farmers basic animal care and production techniques.
Dr Lente joined Grabouw Animal Clinic in early 2024.

Anri & a kitten

Anri Kotze, Receptionist, Animal Person

Anri, the first face to welcome you at the door, joined our team in February 2023. Anri moved to Grabouw in 2022 and, having worked as a receptionist and practice manager at various veterinary clinics since 2013, she was happy to hear a spot was available at the local vet.
The extrovert in her enjoys interacting with clients, old, young and furry, and she will assist you in all your pet needs, from choosing the right food to being the sympathetic shoulder you need when your pet is sick.
Anri enjoys exploring new restaurants and markets with her husband, socialising with her friends and family and trying to perfect her leather crafting.

Donalyn & Toffee

Donalyn Hennessey, Veterinary Surgeon, Animal Person

As a British child fortunate to have grown up between rural Botswana and the Eastern Cape, Donalyn has always been passionate about Africa and animals. She competed in endurance riding for the Eastern Province while at school, before going on to read for a BSc (Hons) in England, equine dentistry in the USA and finally her veterinary degree at Edinburgh University in Scotland. On completion of her studies, Dr Donalyn returned to South Africa and during a few months practising in Ceres, met her future husband. She worked for 4 years in a mixed rural practice in Graaff Reinet, before joining Villiersdorp Veterinary Clinic as primary veterinarian. After more than 10 years in practice, she still loves being able to spend every day with animals, easing their suffering where she can. For her, one of the privileges of being a rural vet is the ability to be part of a supportive community and to work closely with it to hopefully improve the small world around us. She enjoys spending time with her family, own animals and friends, learning the piano, reading or enjoying the outdoors.

Geraldine, Zani & Diesel

Geraldine Bruwer, Practice manager, Animal Person

Geraldine has been welcoming clients to Grabouw Animal Clinic since 2013 with her knowledge and calm demeanour. She is proud of the skills she has developed during years of experience and product training. She is able to give information relevant to each individual client and their unique relationship with their pet.
With meticulous attention to detail, Geraldine ensures that our daily schedule runs smoothly and efficiently. Her commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of her work, making her an invaluable asset to the team and a reliable point of contact for our clients.
Geraldine enjoys sunshine and reading, road trips, “accidentally” acquiring more houseplants and dining out. She often opens her home to foster puppies, giving the local animal welfare time to network them. She lives with 4 dogs, 1 cat and 1 husband.

Elias & Delta

Elias Maziko, Vet Assistant, Animal Person

Elias is a dedicated, passionate veterinary assistant. With no prior experience in the field, Elias began his journey with a strong willingness to learn and a determination to succeed. Through hard work and perseverance, he has developed into a skilled and valued member of the clinic’s team.
Elias thrives on challenges, always eager to take on new responsibilities. His passion for animal welfare is evident in everything he does, and he is particularly fond of horses. Elias enjoys spending time with his loyal mixed-breed dog, taking walks and cherishing quality moments with his family.
Elias’s story serves as an inspiration to anyone who has ever doubted their ability to succeed. His dedication and love for his work have enabled him to flourish in his role, and he continues to positively impact the lives of the animals and people around him.

Robson & Max

Robson Taka Mgwamba, Vet Assistant, Animal Person

Robson is a dedicated, compassionate veterinary assistant passionate about delivering exceptional animal care. He trained as a veterinary technician at the esteemed Mazowe Veterinary College, laying the foundation for his successful career.
Since joining Grabouw Animal Clinic in July 2021, Robson has been an integral part of the team, consistently striving for client satisfaction and providing top-notch care to his patients. Although he doesn’t have a personal pet, he treats each animal that comes through the clinic’s doors with love and dedication, especially Emma, the practice’s cat, who has a special place in his heart.
Robson enjoys exploring new sites and watching adventure movies and series. His commitment to his work and his love for animals make him an invaluable asset to the veterinary community.

Robson & Max

Robson Taka Mgwamba, Vet Assistant, Animal Person

Michelle & Gunnar

Michelle Arendorff, Cleaner, Animal Person

Michelle is our dedicated, compassionate cleaner. She has been working at the clinic since 2018. Her passion for her work goes beyond just cleaning; she takes a keen interest in the wellbeing of the patients. Michelle often assists the technical staff by keeping a watchful eye on the animals, particularly those that are critically ill, and promptly reports any unusual signs or symptoms.
Outside of work, Michelle is an animal lover and proud owner of 5 mixed-breed dogs and 1 cat. She enjoys listening to music and watching romantic movies. Michelle is committed to giving back to the community and is involved in charity event planning, using her skills to make a positive impact.
Michelle’s kindness, empathy and dedication to her work and community make her a valuable asset to the Grabouw Animal Clinic team and an inspiration to those around her.