We have another story we want to share… “My name is Nonhlanhla Sibanda, the celebrity lady who is the face you see on a Mangwanani brochure. In 2014, I started working for Mangwanani. I am a single mother of four children. Mangwanani changed my life drastically. I was able to put all my children through school. They have all done well and passed each grade. My children thank me for all I have done for them: it has not been at all easy. However, I am proud of Mangwanani and regard Mangwanani as the father of my children. Without Mangwanani’s support, I would not have been able to give my children an education. Whilst at Mangwanani, I have managed to buy land, where I intend to build a home for my children. Thank you, Erin, for giving me and my children a future. I extol the virtues of Mangwanani. The company has done great things for me; and I have realised my ambitions through Mangwanani.”

We have another story, this time by Ntsoaki: “My name is Ntsoaki, mother of 3 children. I came to Johannesburg to be a stay-at-home mother. My husband was the only breadwinner. I fell pregnant with my third child, and realised that I needed to help my husband. Mangwanani took me in and gave me massage training. After intensive training over several weeks, I was accepted as an employee. I was very happy to be able to help my husband financially. I was also able to send money home to my mother, who was living with all my children and siblings. Two years down the line, my skills and experience were recognised. I was promoted to assistant branch manager……..which was so exciting, I could hardly believe it. I kept working diligently and learnt everything I could about my trade. I have always given my all, in every situation. I often approached Tshidi, my manager, offering my assistance, and asking for extra experience and training . Tshidi taught me a great deal. I did not even know how to type on the computer − I was clueless with computers. I learnt customer service − how to talk to clients and how to address the calls from clients. Thanks to Mangwanani, I learnt everything that they could teach me, from reception duties, to the smallest attention to detail in service to clients… I’ll forever be grateful for the recognition (and the payment) that came with it. I am not the only one happy − my husband and extended family are thrilled with what I have accomplished!”

This is the story from Nikiwe, the branch manager at Mangwanani Winelands.

I am Nikiwe Kolwana. I was born in 1966. I am the proud mother of five children. It gives me pleasure to say that l have been empowered by Mangwanani, after struggling along the road of life for 30 years. Yes, l am a matriculant; however, that did not lead to a job. When l joined Mangwanani, l had specialised in hand therapy. Christine Gladys trained me initially at River Valley. I was appointed duty manager for Zevenwacht, our former Cape branch. Four years later, the spa burnt down. When we reopened, l became the spa manager. I was under many branch managers until 2013, when l, too, became a branch manager.

My journey with Mangwanani has been of great benefit to my life. I have been sent to the Netherlands and to Spain to attend events there. The travel and accompanying experience and training has been thanks to Erin’s efforts. l have been able to provide for all my children, giving them a good education. Three of my children are graduates: in public, financial, and marketing management. Thanks to you, Erin: you have been a kind ‘mother’ to me in all the struggles I have had to endure. I lost my husband, which was a hugely painful experience. However, Mangwanani was there for me. Erin helped me through the pain, supporting and comforting me. Christine is also always a comforter, assuring me that nothing bad will happen to me on her watch. Mangwanani, as a company, means the world to me and my family.

l am who l am today, thanks to Mangwanani. l wish l could share with the world on TV that there is no company like Mangwanani which assists the poor the way they do. I am enormously grateful to Mangwanani.