Gizelle van der Merwe arrived by storm on this planet on the 09th September 1968 as Gizelle Klopper. Today, Nido (“nest” in Italian) is synonymous with her and her passion.

From a very young age, Gizelle always wanted to nurture and look after people and decided that “I want to be a Physiotherapist,” but fate intervened and resulted in Gizelle completing her schooling in Kempton Park and Richards Bay and receiving her B. Comm. (Hon) in 1992, from the University of Potchefstroom ~ perhaps a wise choice as it has allowed her to pursue her dream with passion.

In 1993 and after graduating, Gizelle joined Portnet as PR Manager for the port of Richards Bay and later became Promotions manager for all 7 ports.

Gizelle Klopper became Gizelle van der Merwe in 1995 and in 1996 Nido became an adolescent and flew into the world.  Prof. Dr. Margo took early retirement from UNISA and became Nido Nursing Director in 1996.

In 1998 Gizelle discovered she was pregnant. With Jèanelle on her lap and cell phone in her hand, Nido started taking shape. Unfortunately her marriage didn’t survive the growing pains of the fledging business and baby concurrently and Gizelle then became a single parent, CEO, and founder of Nido all at the same time.

In 2000 she was crowned Mrs. SA Ambassador and she also received the Mrs. SA Hostess and Mrs. Business Executive award. In 2001 Gizelle entered the prestigious ABSA 2001 Business Woman of the Year event and she won the category “Gauteng Entrepreneur of the Year.”

In between nurturing Jèanelle and Nido, Gizelle still has time to sit down and chat about her life. Various articles about her as Mother, business woman and Entrepreneur have been published.

To be a mother is her first priority and she managed to enrol Jèanelle into Crawford College which is close to home and office to maintain a balance, as she puts it “to be close if there is a crisis at school.”

“Nido” has grown into Nido Private Health Care (Pty) Ltd (Pty) Ltd, Nido Training (Pty) Ltd and is well known in the Health Care Industry. Nido has entered into various strategic alliances to broaden the base of services that it has available for its valued client base.

And Gizelle still has plans for more………….!

“2004!”, Nido Training (Pty) Ltd extended its activities to train and place Professional Health Care Assistants, Health Care Worker, Health Care Porter, Health Care Au Pair and Child Carer both nationally and internationally.

Nido Private Health Care (Pty) Ltd is a licensee with the SA Nursing Council (SANC) for the last 10 years, manages placements of all category nurses in SA, participates in health and wellness days, and performs and coordinates corporate vaccinations.

Gizelle successfully negotiated with Netcare on the 14th November 2005 exclusively (the largest doctor and hospital group in SA) to train as well a to place qualified Health Care Workers and Porters exclusively for placements in Netcare hospitals and to be a preferred service Provider for all private placements in patients' homes after hospitalization especially in Netcare.

“Nido” is in the process of being accredited by the Health and Welfare Seta and is also finalizing its Bargaining Council for Care workers.  Gizelle identified the need for a proper council to be established where all Care workers must register each year to be evaluated on their knowledge and practical experience in basic nursing as well as their standard of core experience. This will allow employers of care-workers to feel more at ease employing someone taking care of their family or clients to know that they have been evaluated and approved to work in the health care industry.

 

Nido also offers Beauty treatments (manicures and pedicures, full body massage, aromatherapy and reflexology in Netcare hospitals and especially in their maternity wards. (from 2006)

Gizelle has a passion to empower and enrich an individuals life in opportunities afforded to increase their education.  Nido has changed the name of Health Care Worker to al Professional Heath Care Assistant and after successful completion of their course they follow an additional course and receive a Beauty Treatment Training Certificate, Frail Care, Basic Nutrition, Cooking and Au Pairing.

 

Gizelle is a member of:

In 2000 the need for professional indemnity insurance for Care workers where identified and Nido have indemnity cover, managed by Glenrand MIB.

In terms of social responsibility, Gizelle applies extended dedication to the needs of the disabled, she involves herself in charity Golf Days, golf coaching for the disabled and enhancing her main goal to uplift social standards of previously disadvantaged individuals.