I am Kebareng Ralekwa, 33 years of age. I originate from a village just outside Hammanskraal called Nokaneng.

[Thread on how I started @HandSpaofGold ]

I relocated to Temba, Hammanskraal in 2003, I completed my matric in Temba and went to study with University of Pretoria Mamelodi campus, unfortunately I fell pregnant in my second year and I had to dropped out. Went back to the village to stay with my GranMa

After giving birth, I got a job at Edgar's kolonade as a casual cashier towards the end of 2009, at the same time I applied for letsema learnership and I got an opportunity to work with Absa bank in 2010. I've always been eager for growth...

now and then I'll ask my managers to groom me in all the departments, while I was in the training process, I managed to get trained for 5 different positions which were, Treasury, Teller, Teceptionist, Bulk teller, and Customer service clerk.

I enjoyed working with clients on a daily basis, I was always on the floor welcoming clients , and assisting them because interacting with people was my first love. In January of 2011, the learnership with Absa ended and I was never taken permanently...

it torn me apart because I loved working with people, I loved my job. In February of 2011, I applied for agencies and I was called in to work in Johannesburg, I worked for 5 branches in 9 months. Then in December of 2011...

I got a permanent job with Absa Brooklyn, remember I started my career in banking with Absa. My new manager at Absa saw potential in me, he wanted me everywhere, unfortunately I fell pregnant with the second child, I lost focus ,got into debts.

Depression then attacked me as I was in denial because I believed I couldn't survive alone until I succumbed to the thought and lost myself. I resigned in 2014 and went back home. No support from family or partner, only friends and helper, God bless them.

Then in March of 2014, I worked for a butchery and I was earning 1,2k from a much better salary I earned at absa. After a month I met a guy who had a business, he saw a potential in me and he hired me to work for him he, offered me 1,3k a month, I survived...

Fast forward to 2015, I got a job at a Spa as a receptionist and earned 2,5k. While they were short staffed some days, they would train me so that I can help them. That's were my journey started with Spa work...

I enjoyed being in contact with clients, my passion grew every single day. In the process, got an opportunity to work in the EC, that was in June 2016. I grabbed that opportunity and went to worked there with no qualification and little experience...

...I worked for a 5 star lodge where political party members were booked. One of the Politicians advised me while I was giving him the massage to come back home and open my own Spa as he loved my customer service...

February of 2017, I resigned and came back home, I got another job in Tzaneen as a head therapist, I worked there until the Spa was liquidated, I had to come back home to my kids in December of that year empty handed

We had a very dark Christmas. Fast forwad to the 9th of January 2018, I had a very bad morning as I had only had R90 to my name. As I wondered how I was going to change my fortunes, my cousin called to check up on me, he sensed I was down...

he came to my house to check on me. He asked dintshang, I told him the kids had no school uniform and I didn't have a plan...he said, "Kebareng use your mind then your hands....you can't starve while having hands. What is it that you love doing." ...

I said massaging. He said I must come with him to massage his heavily pregnant wife. I didn't have much with me except the R90 I had in my name. He asked what I needed. He took me to Wondepark and we bought basics, then went to the his wife I treated her...

He took me back home and said I must charge him for the work I had done on his wife, I charged him and he paid me. The same evening, I wrote a pricelist then posted on Facebook...

Then boom I received an overwhelming support. Now I'm my own Boss and Brand, since that day, I never looked back. No big funding nor sponsors, 2 years 7months and counting in the business. It is not easy but I'm pushing
@KhandaniM @djsbu