Marlu van Wymeersch (31) has gracefully mastered the art of juggling life as a successful businesswoman, wife, and mother to a spirited three-year-old son. Her radiant beauty is accentuated by an inner strength she’s drawn upon since the age of five.
Marlu qualified as a chartered accountant in 2020, having completed her articles at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Johannesburg, but even that journey came with its share of stumbling blocks. We meet up at a well-known coffee shop. An empty mug sits on the table. “I’m always early, so I’ve already had coffee,” she smiles apologetically. She is undeniably striking, but what stands out more is the quiet determination in her eyes – she knows exactly what she wants from life, and she’s not afraid to work for it.
While on the surface, her life might appear picture-perfect, Marlu’s childhood was anything but. At just five years old, her mother, Lulu, was tragically shot and killed in a senseless act of violence at a mobile phone shop in a local shopping centre. Her 13-year-old half-sister, Cindy, was standing beside her and witnessed the horrific incident. The gunman, disgruntled over poor service, went on a shooting spree, injuring and killing innocent bystanders. The Lowveld community was left reeling.
“I didn’t just lose my mother. I lost my sisters, my entire family. We moved to another town, where my grandmother helped raise me for the next four years. My dad, Mario, struggled tremendously to cope. Even at that age, I felt adrift, but he did his best to give me everything.” Her father’s love means the world to her and he plays a big role in her life.
Marlu is grateful to him for ensuring she never had to take out a student loan. “He paid my fees so I could start my career without that burden. At the time I took it for granted, but I now recognise the sacrifices he made.” When Marlu was nine, Mario remarried. “Driekie is my mother in every sense. She became my biggest cheerleader. She taught me the finer things in life, and I wouldn’t be the mom I am today without her influence.”
However, heartache struck again during her second year at university when Cindy died during childbirth. “It was devastating. I wasn’t able to even write my final exams and had to repeat the year.” Still, giving up was never an option. With resolve and persistence, Marlu completed her studies.
Her return to the Lowveld in 2020 wasn’t entirely planned. “I remember joking to a friend, ‘where am I supposed to find a husband now?’” she laughs. In 2021, she began working for a US-based accounting firm. “It allowed me the flexibility to work at my own pace and schedule, since my clients were in the UK, Australia, and elsewhere. The time zones worked in my favour and I was well-paid.”
Soon after returning to Mbombela, a friend invited her to a shooting range event. It was there that she met Marc, her husband. “At first, I wasn’t interested in a relationship. But the third time he asked me out, he said, ‘It’s not a life sentence; it’s just coffee.’ I said yes.” The rest, as they say, is history. The couple now lives on a picturesque farm with their son, Leo Joshua (LJ). “I love motherhood. Every milestone, every giggle, I soak it all in.”
In June this year, Marlu made the bold decision to pursue a new business venture. “I wanted to build something for us, for the future. With my finance background, I knew what to look out for. I’ve always had an interest in aesthetics, so when the chance came to open a Nuskinnovation branch in Dainfern, Johannesburg, I prayed on it, did all the financial models, and took a leap of faith.”
She opened in August, with just one month to find a location, recruit staff, and complete the shop fitting. “Now I enjoy the best of both worlds. When we see the results of our treatments like our non-surgical facelifts, it’s incredibly rewarding. Aesthetics has a medical side too, and we work closely with dermatologists, skin specialists, and qualified somatologists.”
Once a week, Marlu boards the early flight from KMI Airport to Johannesburg and returns on the last flight to Mbombela. Her ambitions keep growing and her plans for further studies in the field are already in motion. “My husband is an amazing, hands-on dad. Knowing LJ is well cared for allows me to focus when I’m travelling. Having my own business also means I can enjoy more quality time with my son when I’m at home.”
The festive season holds a special place in Marlu’s heart as family always comes first. “We always try to be together on Christmas Day. This year, we’ll be in the bushveld, our favourite kind of getaway.”
Life may have thrown formidable challenges Marlu’s way, but she concludes with a smile: “When God wanted to make David a king, He didn’t give him a crown. He gave him Goliath. And that’s how we grow into who we’re meant to be.”
This year, there’s even more reason to celebrate – Marlu and Marc are expecting a new addition to their family. Baby number two is due in 2026.
Cover: Marlu van Wymeersch.
Photographer: Belinda Erasmus – Belle-Grace Photography
Make-up: Melissa Minne – Melissa Minne Hair & Make-up Artistry
Venue: Botanical Gardens Restaurant.
