Born in 1968, Nico attended Monumentpark primary school in Pretoria. He attended Pearson High in Port Elizabeth where he matriculated with distinction in 1986.

He received his pregraduate medical training at the University of the Free State, and stayed on campus in the Armentum hostel during this time.

After his internship at Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth, Nico and Ankie (his wife) moved to Leandra in Mpumalanga where he practised as a General Practitioner in a rural community from 1994 -2004.

The van Niekerk family, daughter, Nelleke and son, FA moved to Bloemfontein to further his studies in General Surgery again at the University of the Free State.

Under the guidance of his mentor, Professor Renald Barry, he achieved the Douglas award for outstanding achievement in the final exams of the College of Surgeons of South Africa in 2008.

Nico is well equipped to deal with the entire spectrum of general surgery, with special interest in laparoscopic surgery.

The van Niekerk family are keen outdoor people with a great love of water sports.