05/03/2025
Title: My Life Story — How Selling Shaped My Journey
Five years ago, I was selling laptops. Today, I sell houses. That’s what I call growth! I have always seen myself as an entrepreneur and businessman. My journey in sales started as early as grades 5 to 7, when I sold atchaar to help my grandmother buy groceries. Although we sometimes struggled with proper meals, we never went to bed hungry because she always made sure we had something. Recognizing the demand for atchaar, I took the initiative to expand and even employed my friends, Lucky Mahlatse Malesa Slaka Da Suphest and Thomas DeLamark, paying them R2 each. Those were great times! Even Constable Malesela Valen Khalanga would have some interesting stories to share about that phase of my life. 😁😂
My passion for selling took a backseat when I moved to Pretoria in 2011. Who knows? If I had stayed in the village, I might have ended up running a spaza shop like my aunt. When I arrived in Pretoria, I struggled to find something to sell since my new high school, a Model C school, didn’t have a government feeding scheme. I later discovered a way to make money by assisting fellow students with their Technical Drawing projects during grades 10 to 12.
In 2016, I began my first semester at Tshwane University of Technology and asked myself, “What can I sell here?” I realized I first needed to sharpen my skills in my field of study. During my third year, I worked hard to master an industrial project, and soon, I noticed many students struggling with it. That presented another opportunity! I began training and mentoring over 30 students, including undergraduate and BTech/Advanced Diploma candidates. My friend Ntshuxeko Ascension Mcomp and I collaborated to help as many students as possible while earning from it.
During my university years, the idea of venturing into forex trading frequently crossed my mind, but I chose to stay focused on my studies. However, when my first internship ended abruptly, and I was informed in my final week that my contract wouldn’t be renewed, I was devastated. Fortunately, I was studying BTech in IT and soon secured a job as a tutor/success rate coordinator, mentoring underperforming students and offering emotional support. It was during this period that I started thinking about starting a business. Selling gadgets, including laptops and tablets, became my next venture. Due to the high demand and trust I built among TUT students, the business flourished, earning me R2,000 — R3,000 per month. However, it all came to an abrupt end when I was nearly arrested for selling unverified laptops from the black market. Lacking proof of purchase, I had to bribe my way out, paying a total of R10,000 in cash and assets. That marked the end of my laptop-selling journey.
The years 2020–2021 were a period of deep learning. Amidst the uncertainty of COVID-19, I was completing my second internship and worried about job security. Fortunately, I was part of an IT project at the University of Johannesburg, where we upgraded the network and Wi-Fi infrastructure — so if you’re a UJ student, just know I played a role in the connectivity you enjoy today.
While living in Tembisa, I realized I needed a side hustle to supplement my income. The crypto boom was at its peak, and I became deeply interested in forex trading and cryptocurrencies. Seeing this as my potential ticket to wealth, I prayed for guidance and took a leap of faith. I invested my entire savings of R30,000 — R50,000 into equity investments and crypto, hoping for higher returns than the banks offered. At first, it seemed like my dream of financial success was coming true — I made R143,000! But soon after, I lost almost everything. It was devastating because I had planned to pay off my car and save for my unborn child. Determined to recover, I reinvested R10,000 — R15,000 and immersed myself in forex trading, waking up at 3 AM daily to trade before and after work. I became obsessed, believing I could regain my lost money. Instead, I lost even more — up to R120,000. After deep reflection, I accepted that forex trading is a form of gambling. It doesn’t provide sustainable wealth or a stable income. While I respect those who do it full-time, I realized it wasn’t for me.
I then began searching for another way to build a second stream of income. Real estate, something I had always been interested in, became my new focus. I reached out to , who recommended I join Group Properties.
Transitioning into real estate (Madea Mangena PlusGroup Properties) was smooth, thanks to my previous sales experience. Just last month, I was assisting with pricing a house valued between R1.2 million and R1.6 million. After calculating expenses and factoring in inflation, the client was impressed by my understanding of property valuation and asked how long I had been a real estate agent. When I told him just two months, he was amazed! Within my first month at PlusGroup Properties, I had already secured eight properties for sale.
I believe in building and growing businesses. Looking back, I realize I was always running away from something. As Witness Mdaka once said, “We are all running away from something.” Since childhood, I have been running from extreme poverty. I knew the change had to start with me — by building businesses to support my family, better myself, and ultimately give back to my community. Today, I am proud to have registered my first business, OO Plus Corporation, which focuses on IT training, mentorship, and real estate.
If you’ve read this far, thank you for taking the time to read my story. The journey continues.
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