MOHS SURGERY DERMATOLOGISTS
DR pieter du plessis
MBChB, MMed (Derm), FC Derm(SA)
PRETORIA BRANCH
Mohs Surgeon | ASDS Mohs Fellowship Director
Dr Pieter du Plessis trained as a medical doctor and dermatologist at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, obtaining both degrees cum laude. There he was presented, among others, with the award for best final-year medical student and the Vice-Chancellor’s medal for the best final-year student from the Faculty of Natural Sciences. Upon completion of his specialisation in dermatology, he was presented with the award for the best final-year registrar in the Faculty of Medicine (across all specialties). He obtained Fellowship (cum laude) of the College of Dermatologists of South Africa and was awarded the College of Dermatologists Medal for the most outstanding candidate in the final Fellowship examination of the College of Dermatology.
As a Dermatology Registrar, he spent time in the Dermatological Surgery Unit of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Newcastle in the United Kingdom, where he received training in dermatological and formalin-fixed Mohs surgery.
After completing an American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) International Fellowship Recognition Program (ITMP) Fellowship in Mohs skin cancer surgery in the United States, he founded the SkinMatters Mohs and Reconstruction Unit in Pretoria.
Dr Du Plessis performs Mohs micrographic surgery and staged excision with PDEMA on indicated cutaneous tumours, including keratinocyte carcinomas, malignant melanoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, extramammary Paget’s disease, and others.
He has been recognised by the ASDS ITMP as a Fellowship Director in Mohs Surgery and has trained three South African dermatologists as Fellows in Mohs Micrographic Surgery under the one-year Mohs Fellowship endorsed by the ASDS ITMP Fellowship Recognition Program. He also received the ASDS ITMP Outstanding Contribution Award.
The SkinMatters Mohs and Reconstruction Unit comprises two branches: one in Pretoria (Gauteng) and one Cape Town (Western Cape). Between them, the branches boast four Mohs surgeons, seven reconstructive surgeons, two oculoplastic surgeons, and two fully equipped Mohs frozen section laboratories.
The Mohs frozen section laboratory in Pretoria has been accredited as a South African National Accreditation Standards (SANAS) laboratory, the first Mohs laboratory in South Africa to be awarded this coveted status (which requires an international level of audited laboratory standards and processes). The Pretoria Mohs and Reconstruction Unit has completed over 21 000 Mohs surgery cases to date (2025) and has hosted international Mohs surgeons and fellows in Mohs surgery.
Dr Du Plessis was previously President of the South African Society of Dermatologic Surgery (SASDS) and was awarded the SASDS Excellence in Leadership award. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Dermatologic Society of South Africa and as Chairperson of the Mohs Surgery Society of South Africa (MSSSA). He is an Overseas Fellow of the ASDS and an International Fellow of the American Society for Mohs Surgery (ASMS).
He has served as Chairperson of the LCM Skin and Laser Clinic in Pretoria as well as Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson or committee member of the organising committees of various annual South African Dermatology Congresses. Dr Du Plessis also served two terms on the Board of the College of Dermatologists of South Africa and as an examiner for the College of Dermatologists Part 2 exams.
Dr Du Plessis has published papers in peer-reviewed journals on various dermatology topics (recently focused on Mohs surgery), been a reviewer for a peer-reviewed journal, and been invited as lecturer to local and international congresses. This includes being the keynote speaker at the 2022 Annual ASDS Meeting in Denver in the United States and invited speaker at the first International Mohs Surgery Symposium hosted by the prestigious American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS).
Dr Johann de Wet
MBChB, MMed (Derm), MMed (Skin Cancer), MPath, FC Derm(SA), FCFP
CAPE TOWN BRANCH
Mohs Surgeon | Co-faculty: Mohs Fellowship
Dr Johann de Wet is a dermatologist and Mohs Micrographic Surgeon as well as founder of The Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute in Stellenbosch. The Institute serves as a leading referral centre of excellence for skin cancer patients.
Dr De Wet earned his Fellowship (cum laude) from the College of Dermatologists and holds a Master of Medicine (MMed) degree in Dermatology, as well as a Master’s degree in Pathology, both from the University of Stellenbosch, where he graduated cum laude. He also obtained a Diploma in Dermatology and an MMed in Skin Cancer at the University of Cardiff in Wales and the University of Queensland in Australia, respectively. Following his dermatology training, Dr De Wet pursued a Fellowship in Mohs Micrographic Surgery with the American Society of Dermatological Surgery. He holds a Fellowship from the Canadian College of Family Physicians and serves as an Honorary Lecturer in the Division of Dermatology at Stellenbosch University.
As an enthusiastic clinician, academic and researcher, Dr De Wet has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and is frequently invited to speak at both national and international conferences. His work has earned him prestigious accolades, including the Peter Gordon-Smith Medal and the Jansen Research Foundation Medal from the College of Dermatologists. He was also honoured with the Rector’s Medal for Academic Excellence by Stellenbosch University. For his groundbreaking research on melanoma skin cancer and Mohs surgery, Dr De Wet was awarded the Discovery Foundation Academic Research Fellowship.
In addition to his clinical and academic endeavours, Dr De Wet is an active member of the Executive Committee of the Melanoma Society of South Africa, further contributing to the advancement of dermatology and skin cancer care.
Dr NIVANA RAMLACHAN
MBChB, FC Derm(SA)
PRETORIA BRANCH
Mohs Surgeon | Co-faculty: Mohs Fellowship
Dr Nivana Ramlachan earned her MBChB in 1998 and achieved a fellowship with the College of Dermatology in October 2005. She is a highly regarded dermatologist in private practice, consulting at Club Surgical Centre and Libertas Office Park in Pretoria.
Notably, she is South Africa’s first female dermatologist to specialise in Mohs micrographic surgery. She completed the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) International Fellowship Recognition Program (ITMP) Mohs Fellowship in the SkinMatters Mohs and Reconstruction Unit before joining the units and becoming Co-faculty on the Mohs Fellowship.
She has been an invited lecturer on Mohs microscopic surgery topics both locally and internationally, notably at the International Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ISDS) Annual Meeting.
Dr TSHEPO MOKWENA
MBChB, FC Derm(SA)
PRETORIA BRANCH
Mohs Surgeon | Co-Faculty: Mohs Fellowship
Born in North West, Dr Tshepo Mokwena earned both his undergraduate Medical degree (MBChB) and postgraduate qualification (FC Derm(SA)) from the University of Pretoria. Recognised for his excellence early on, he was awarded Best Intern of the Year and Medical Officer of the Year consecutively. He completed his specialist dermatology training at the University of Pretoria and served as a Specialist Dermatologist in tertiary and quaternary healthcare institutions.
Having practised in the state and private sectors for a number of years, Dr Mokwena successfully completed his Fellowship in Mohs Micrographic Surgery and currently performs Mohs surgery at Club Surgical Centre in Pretoria (home to the SkinMatters Mohs and Reconstruction Unit in Gauteng).
Dr Mokwena continues to create awareness of dermatological conditions and manages all clinical and aesthetic dermatological problems. He is active in programmes linked to skin cancer awareness and has appeared on SABC TV and radio programmes to educate the public on skin-related matters. He contributes to scientific research and to medical journals and actively presents to general practitioners, specialists and the public.