INTRODUCING ANGELO BROOKS
Greetings to the Methodist Homes family. I greet you all in the
wonderful name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
My name is Angelo Brooks, and it is with a heart full of enthusiasm and humility that I step into the role as the new Chief Executive Officer on 1 November 2025. I am truly honoured to join this exceptional community, and I am committed to serve each and every one of the MHA family.
My CEO predecessors, Andries van Westenbrugge and then Hein Barnard, helped build a wonderful legacy for which we should all be hugely grateful. I will walk in their footsteps with humility and great purpose.
A Little about Me and My Family
My story began right here in the Eastern Cape as I was born (in 1969) and raised in Port Elizabeth, recently renamed Gqeberha. My career in leadership has taken me to various parts of our beautiful country, with the Langkloof, Willowmore, Mossel Bay, Cape Town and Bloemfontein, among others, being some of the interesting places that I called home at certain stages of my life.
I am married to a wonderful and God-fearing woman named Verity, and together we have six incredible children who have now given us the joyous title of “Pa and Ma” to six amazing grandchildren.
Our family is my great treasure, and it has taught me that the essence of a fulfilling life is connection, patience, love, and the importance of caring for one another. These are the values that I believe are reflected here in the everyday life of everyone at MHA.
My Heart for This Work
For over 30 years, I’ve held various roles in the corporate and public sectors, but my true passion has always been about people, not just projects. I have led teams with a simple philosophy that true strength lies in integrity, compassion and positive collaboration. I believe that the values we cherish in our own families – kindness, respect and compassion – are the exact same values that should fill our spaces and halls here at MHA.
The last few years have seen me mentoring young boys from the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth, and also serving in leadership roles at our church. Through serving in these roles, it has shown me a simple truth; whether we are nine or ninety, we all share a fundamental need to feel seen, heard, and cherished.
I have read and heard about the vibrant lives, stories and wisdom of our residents, and I am committed to ensuring that MHA is a place where every person feels truly at home.
Finding Balance
When I am not in the office, apart from my Christian ministry roles, I do especially enjoy a round of golf as I am an avid golfer. I also enjoy the quiet patience of fishing when time allows, or spending time in the gym.
These activities, together with my faith in Christ that is first and foremost, keeps me balanced and focused.
An Open Invitation
My door will always be open, and I look forward to sharing a cup of tea, listening to your stories, understanding your concerns, and learning what you love most about MHA. I am also a firm believer in MBWA (Management By Walking Around)!
Together with our incredible staff and the wonderful families, we will continue to build a warm, joyful and nurturing environment for all. To those I have already met, I thank you all for the warm welcome, and Verity and I are incredibly excited to be a part of this wonderful MHA family.
With warmest regards and……TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
HEIN’S JOURNEY OF JOY WITH US - A Farewell to HEIN BARNARD
It's not easy to imagine Methodist Homes without Hein
Barnard at the helm. For nearly fourteen years, Hein has been our leader, our
steady hand, and often our quiet voice of reason. Now, as he retires, we look
back on a journey that was truly one of joy – for him, for his staff and for
the residents.
Hein joined MHA at a time of change, following the retirement of Andries van Westenbrugge. The early months were, as Hein himself recalls, “an absolute nightmare” with him trying to find his direction in unfamiliar territory. Yet it was during those trying days that he showed us who he really is: a leader who knew that the way through any storm was to deal with the problem, not the person. That approach became his compass, guiding MHA through some seemingly impossible challenges.
Hein didn't come from a corporate background. He was first a teacher—at Framesby Hoërskool and later at Technikon—before dabbling in short-term insurance. But at MHA, he found his true calling. And what a calling it turned out to be. Although his predecessors had built a solid foundation, Hein found on his arrival that our financial systems were still being done by hand, technology was practically non-existent, and several of our facilities were crying out for renewal. Slowly but surely, Hein rolled up his sleeves and began to transform the way that MHA had worked.
It wasn't just about numbers and systems. Hein cared deeply about people's safety and wellbeing.
He was the one who pushed for stronger security measures at our villages—first introducing fencing, then cameras, and upgraded systems—always with residents' best interests at heart. Change is never easy, and Hein knew it often made him unpopular at first. But in time, residents understood that his heart was always in the right place, and their gratitude spoke louder than their initial resistance.
If you ask Hein what he believes in most, he'll tell you: love always wins. And he lived that out every day. He led with respect, with empathy, and with a genuine desire to include people in the journey.
One of the best examples of this was his decision to appoint not only men, but also women as Village Managers. Hein recognised that empathy was just as important as efficiency in these roles—and he was right. His decision changed the culture of MHA for the better.
Perhaps the hardest chapter of Hein's leadership came during COVID times. He, Sr Sanet Marx and a dedicated team carried the heavy responsibility of keeping residents safe while enforcing onerous restrictions that were sometimes extremely unpopular. Families needed reassurance, and Hein was often the one to give it. He never grew tired of explaining again and again that everything was done only with the residents' and the staff’s best interests at heart. Looking back now, with only four COVID-related deaths across MHA, it's clear he made the right calls, even if they came at a personal cost.
There have, of course, been sad moments along the way. Hein has admitted that the hardest part of his job was saying goodbye to residents who passed on. But through it all, he remained steadfast in his belief that his work here was not just a career, but a calling. And as he leaves, Hein says without hesitation that these past almost fourteen years have been the happiest of his life.
We couldn't agree more that he is a legend. Hein Barnard didn't just manage Methodist Homes—he shaped it, renewed it, and filled it with heart. His mark will be felt here for years to come.
Hein, thank you for everything. You led us with your strength, you cared for us with your love, and you leave us richer for having known you. May the next chapter of your journey be filled with the same joy you've given so generously to us.
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