Far from home: Jacques Erasmus in Rio. Photo: Facebook

The criminals are usually the ones who have to watch out for the head of Melkbosstrand Neighbourhood Watch, Jacques Erasmus. But recently it were sports teams competing at the Paralympics in Rio.

Erasmus was in Rio in his capacity as the head Wheelchair Rugby classifier for the Asia Oceanic Zone. He was therefore at the Paralympics in his capacity as an international classifier, and not with the South African team.

Wheelchair Rugby at the Rio Paralympics. Photo: Paralympic.org

Erasmus is eminently qualified for this high-powered job that has taken him around the world. He is the director of Jacques Erasmus Physiotherapists and has worked at 2 Military Hospital. He was also part of the team that started the rehab unit at the UCT Private Academic Hospital and the head of the physiotherapy unit. When it moved to the Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital he decided to stay behind and open his own practice.

As the head Wheelchair Rugby Classifier for the Asia Oceanic Zone it’s his job to assess the sportsmen’s impairments and strengths and assign them to the right sport. At the moment Erasmus focuses on Wheelchair Rugby and classification within the Wheelchair Rugby teams; which means that the level of the impairment and functional ability of each player also has to be classified.

This is a high-powered job, and Erasmus, who is so busy running between his practice and the Melkbos Neighbourhood Watch, does it for the love of it as it is pro bono work.