BY Nkosazana Ngwadla
After completing her matric at the age of 38, Mpumalanga woman, Ozwane Mahlangu decided that being a domestic worker was not going to be her job forever, she was determined to climb the ladder in the hospitality industry – and she did!
Ozwane, affectionately known as Oz to her colleagues, was staying at ANEW Hotel Capital when she studied for her matric exams. Now, 12 years later, she has been appointed General Manager of the same hotel.
Growing up on a farm in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga, access to schools during her childhood was limited due to the rural nature of farm life. Ozwane started working for a family as a domestic worker, and as time passed, she realized that this was not for her.
After getting married, her family moved to a farm where she worked in the self-catering units, and guests would often rave about the services she rendered, hoping that her talents would not be wasted in cleaning alone, forever.
Ozwane started as a cleaner and an assistant to a housekeeper at Anew Hotel Capital, and after just three months, she moved to the kitchen as a waiter and ended up as General Manager.
With the more senior role, she realized there were more responsibilities and was determined to embrace them all. She also wanted to be fluent in the English language, through a lot of reading, she achieved this goal.
Ozwane did not stop her academic career at matric, she took on multiple courses over the years, including a wine course. Upskilling herself, mixed with the passion she has for her industry, and sheer determination is proving to be Ozwane’s winning equation!
