The Other Side of Dr Dulcy Rakumakoe: Love, Legacy & Living Fully

Dr Dulcy Rakumakoe is a powerhouse queer name in South African healthcare, a respected medical professional, trailblazing social entrepreneur, and fierce advocate for inclusive, accessible wellness.

But beyond the white coat and boardroom brilliance lies another layer to this multifaceted woman, a quieter, deeply personal story still unfolding in love, identity, and reflection.

We’ve celebrated her before. In 2020, we proudly reported on her recognition as a Santam Woman of the Future, a title well-earned through her tireless work transforming South Africa’s healthcare landscape.

And in 2022, we explored her journey as a doctor and healer, fulfilling a purpose much bigger than herself: “I am just fulfilling my destiny,” she told us then.

But who is Dr Dulcy when the cameras are off, and the clinics are closed?

A Story She’s Ready to Tell

For years, the thought of writing a memoir lingered in the back of her mind. “I considered writing it a few years ago when I started waking up to the realisation of the many things that have happened in my life and how they contributed to the kind of entrepreneur I am,” she recalls.

But she knew timing was everything. “I then convinced myself that at age 50 it would be a perfect time… I would have worked through all the trials and tribulations. I felt this would be a perfect time to share the story and inspire someone.”

Revisiting her past, the triumphs and the challenges, has given her a renewed sense of gratitude. “It made me appreciate all of them even more. Realising that some things I needed to go through to be where I am today.”

And while her memoir will undoubtedly touch on her professional milestones, it’s the more intimate chapters that might catch readers by surprise. She reveals that, “It would definitely have to be my relationship journey. The relationships that did not work out and the real reasons why.”

A Love Written in the Stars

Her relationship with her wife sounds like the plot of a romance film. “I first saw a picture of her on Facebook in a yellow dress. I saved it on my phone without talking to her for close to a year, meanwhile telling anyone who cared to listen that one day this lady is going to be my wife.”

That prediction came true, and today their marriage is a source of deep joy and grounding in her busy life.

“I love how we are all about one another and the family we have built. We pray together, laugh together, party together, share in our joys and our pain. Our families are equally important to us, and we show up for them together as a unit.”

From her past relationships, she’s learned that love should feel natural, not a constant battle. “Love does not have to be difficult or cause pain. I have never felt like I had to be resilient, because we just flow beautifully together.”

Love, Not Just Leadership

This commitment to love and compassion also defines her leadership style. “My leadership style has been refined and clarified even more. I have embraced that I am about love and compassion,” she says.

It’s an ethos that has guided Quadcare, the healthcare network she founded in 2019, to grow into a brand recognised for Quality, Accessibility, and Dignity.

Her journey began humbly as a solo GP in Vryburg in 2002. In 2013, she co-founded U-Care Medical Centres, before launching Quadcare to meet South Africa’s need for affordable, respectful healthcare.

“I’m excited about the growth of the Quadcare brand. It is getting recognised for what it stands for,” she says.

Finding Fuel in Fellowship

What keeps her inspired in a world where burnout is all too common?

“Meeting and interacting with fellow entrepreneurs and activists and realising that there are many people who are as passionate, if not more, about making this world a better place.”

In telling the other side of Dulcy Rakumakoe, we see not a departure from her public self, but a deeper understanding of what anchors her excellence. Love. Faith. Family. Reflection. Legacy.

She is, in every sense, one of our own.