Pain & Gain

Born into abject poverty, Rirhandzu Letty Ngobeni suffered and survived as a businesswoman in South Africa by consistently diversifying her skills, and staying humble.

- Melitta Ngalonkulu

WE ARE IN ROODEPOORT, about an hour’s drive from Johannesburg, in one of Rirhandzu Letty Ngobeni’s many homes. This one is undergoing renovation and resembles the sprawling houses you see on lifestyle television.

“Don’t worry, come in,” gestures Ngobeni, working here on her laptop. The house is barely furnished – it is being renovated for clients who will be leasing it – but in front of her are all the awards and glittering trophies she has amassed over the years for her work as an entrepreneur.

The construction work in the house is noisy, so Ngobeni suggests we conduct the interview in her other home down the road.

Driving out in her Maserati, she speaks of how grateful she is.

“You know I used to drive a [Chevrolet] Spark,” she says, holding on to her steering wheel, and closing her eyes for a moment, reminiscing. It is obvious the memories are fresh – and possibly painful.

Ngobeni is dressed in a black suit and white shirt with a Louis Vuitton buckle belt.

For someone who grew up in absolute poverty, she has come a long way.

Ngobeni was born in Nkuri village in South Africa’s Limpopo Province. The fourth of seven children, she had to sleep on maize meal bags most of her childhood.

Today, the entrepreneur has bagged multiple business ventures. She is the founder of Integrico, which specializes in facilities management, and her big clients are MTN, Broll, SABC and Growth Point. Her other company is Mndhavazi Canteen, Catering and Events.