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Reitze Rodseth vs. transgender people

by Andrea James Reviewed October 16, 2026 4 min read

Reitze Rodseth is a South African anaesthesiologist, critical care specialist, researcher, and anti-transgender activist.

Rodseth is a member of “voluntary association” First Do No Harm Southern Africa.

Rodseth considers affirming models of care for transgender people to be “sex-denialist” or “sex-rejecting” models.

Background

Reitze Nils Rodseth studied medicine at the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA) in Pretoria. Rodseth’s published credentials list MBChB, MMed and PhD degrees. Rodseth also did a research fellowship in perioperative medicine and earned a master’s degree from McMaster University.

Rodseth earned a medical degree from the University of Pretoria in 2000, then completed diplomas in anaesthetics and child health at the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa in 2003. Rodseth became a Fellow of the College of Anaesthetists (2006–2009) and later subspecialised in critical care. Rodseth earned a master’s degree in anaesthesiology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in 2010. Rodseth earned a doctorate in anaesthesiology at UKZN and a master’s degree in health research methodology at McMaster University in 2013.

From 2013 to 2018, Rodseth practiced at Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg as Head of the Clinical Unit for Anaesthesia and as a member of the UKZN Perioperative Research Group. Rodseth then practiced with Jones, Bhagwan and Partners until 2022.

Since 2017 Rodseth has held an honorary associate professorship at UKZN, and since 2022 has worked as a self-employed anaesthesiologist and critical care specialist. Rodseth has also worked at the private hospital group Netcare in Sandton, Johannesburg, first as Clinical Data Modelling Manager (2022–2025) and, since January 2025, as Head of Clinical Data Innovation and Research.

Anti-trans activism

Rodseth frequently collaborates with physicians Allan Donkin and Janet Giddy in the anti-trans “voluntary association” First Do No Harm Southern Africa (FDNHSA). FDNHSA states that “children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults experiencing gender-related distress should not be labelled as ‘transgender.’ This labelling pathologises their distress and risks unnecessary medicalisation.”

Rodseth was a signatory on a 2023 letter in the Wall Street Journal attacking the Endocrine Society for supporting affirmative models of trans healthcare.

References

Professional Association for Transgender Health South Africa; Southern African HIV Clinicians Society (February 8, 2024). Response to First Do No Harm: Why we treat gender diverse youth. Daily Maverick https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-08-response-to-first-do-no-harm-why-we-treat-gender-diverse-youth/

Selected writing by Rodseth

Donkin, A., Rodseth, R., & Giddy, J. (2026). FDNHSA’s response to KL Dunkle et al.’s ‘Upholding clinical integrity and South African relevance: A defence of the SASOP position statement on the care of transgender and non-binary youth.’ South African Journal of Psychiatry, 32(0). https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v32i0.2602

  • reply to Dunkle, K., Lynch, I., Msweli, S., Addinall-van Straaten, R., Brouard, P., de Beer-Procter, J.-L., Madlala, N., McLachlan, C., Muller, M., Pickstone-Taylor, S., Pillay, M., Spitaels, A., Tomson, A., & de Vries, E. (2026). Locally relevant, ethically urgent: Defending SASOP’s stance on transgender and non-binary youth. South African Journal of Psychiatry, 32. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v32i0.2543

Donkin, A., Rodseth, R., & Giddy, J. (2025). A call for SASOP to review their position on the care of ‘transgender and non-binary youth.’ South African Journal of Psychiatry, 31(0). https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v31i0.2381

Giddy, J., Donkin, A., & Rodseth, R. (2025). ‘Gender affirming healthcare’ is not what the family physician needs to know. South African Family Practice, 67(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v67i1.6061

Donkin, Allan; Rodseth, Reitze; Giddy, Janet (July 21, 2024). Examining the Cass Review: Impacts on gender dysphoria treatment in South Africa. Mail & Guardian https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/2024-07-21-examining-the-cass-review-impacts-on-gender-dysphoria-treatment-in-south-africa/

Giddy, Janet; Donkin, Allan; Rodseth, Reitze (May 19, 2024). OPINION | The Cass Review on gender-affirming care: SA’s medical community now at a crossroads. TimesLIVE https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times-daily/opinion-and-analysis/2024-05-19-opinion–cass-review-provides-guidance-on-gender-affirming-care-sas-medical-community-now-at-a-crossroads/ republished May 30, 2024 at https://www.news24.com/life/wellness/opinion-the-cass-review-on-gender-affirming-care-sas-medical-community-now-at-a-crossroads-20240528

First Do No Harm SA (February 19, 2024). Compassionate, evidence-based care for gender-dysphoric children and adolescents is paramount. Daily Maverick https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-19-gender-dysphoria-compassionate-evidence-based-care-is-key/

First Do No Harm SA (January 28, 2024). A call on SA medical professionals to heed evidence on child and adolescent gender distress. Daily Maverick https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-01-28-gender-distress-call-on-medical-professionals-to-heed-evidence/

Rodseth, Reitze; other signatories (July 14, 2023). Youth Gender Transition Is Pushed Without Evidence. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/trans-gender-affirming-care-transition-hormone-surgery-evidence-c1961e27

Resources

First Do No Harm Southern Africa (fdnhsa.org)

University of KwaZulu-Natal Anesthesiology (anaesthetics.ukzn.ac.za)

Google Scholar (scholar.google.ca)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Mail & Guardian (mg.co.za)

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