{"id":21002,"date":"2025-12-15T10:20:59","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T08:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/lowveld\/?p=21002"},"modified":"2026-01-21T10:33:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T08:33:59","slug":"grace-grit-and-a-new-beginning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/lowveld\/blog\/2025\/12\/15\/grace-grit-and-a-new-beginning\/","title":{"rendered":"Grace, grit and a new beginning"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019s drawn upon since the age of five.<\/h4>\n

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. \u201cI\u2019m always early, so I\u2019ve already had coffee,\u201d 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\u2019s not afraid to work for it.<\/p>\n

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While on the surface, her life might appear picture-perfect, Marlu\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t 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.\u201d Her father\u2019s love means the world to her and he plays a big role in her life.<\/p>\n

Marlu is grateful to him for ensuring she never had to take out a student loan. \u201cHe 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.\u201d When Marlu was nine, Mario remarried. \u201cDriekie is my mother in every sense. She became my biggest cheerleader. She taught me the finer things in life, and I wouldn\u2019t be the mom I am today without her influence.\u201d<\/p>\n

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However, heartache struck again during her second year at university when Cindy died during childbirth. \u201cIt was devastating. I wasn\u2019t able to even write my final exams and had to repeat the year.\u201d Still, giving up was never an option. With resolve and persistence, Marlu completed her studies.<\/p>\n

Her return to the Lowveld in 2020 wasn\u2019t entirely planned. \u201cI remember joking to a friend, \u2018where am I supposed to find a husband now?\u2019\u201d she laughs. In 2021, she began working for a US-based accounting firm. \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soon after returning to Mbombela, a friend invited her to a shooting range event. It was there that she met Marc, her husband. \u201cAt first, I wasn\u2019t interested in a relationship. But the third time he asked me out, he said, \u2018It\u2019s not a life sentence; it\u2019s just coffee.\u2019 I said yes.\u201d The rest, as they say, is history. The couple now lives on a picturesque farm with their son, Leo Joshua (LJ). \u201cI love motherhood. Every milestone, every giggle, I soak it all in.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In June this year, Marlu made the bold decision to pursue a new business venture. \u201cI wanted to build something for us, for the future. With my finance background, I knew what to look out for. I\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

She opened in August, with just one month to find a location, recruit staff, and complete the shop fitting. \u201cNow I enjoy the best of both worlds. When we see the results of our treatments like our non-surgical facelifts, it\u2019s incredibly rewarding. Aesthetics has a medical side too, and we work closely with dermatologists, skin specialists, and qualified somatologists.\u201d<\/p>\n

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. \u201cMy husband is an amazing, hands-on dad. Knowing LJ is well cared for allows me to focus when I\u2019m travelling. Having my own business also means I can enjoy more quality time with my son when I\u2019m at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The festive season holds a special place in Marlu\u2019s heart as family always comes first. \u201cWe always try to be together on Christmas Day. This year, we\u2019ll be in the bushveld, our favourite kind of getaway.\u201d
\nLife may have thrown formidable challenges Marlu\u2019s way, but she concludes with a smile: \u201cWhen God wanted to make David a king, He didn\u2019t give him a crown. He gave him Goliath. And that\u2019s how we grow into who we\u2019re meant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, there\u2019s even more reason to celebrate – Marlu and Marc are expecting a new addition to their family. Baby number two is due in 2026.<\/p>\n

Cover: Marlu van Wymeersch.<\/em>
\nPhotographer: Belinda Erasmus – Belle-Grace Photography<\/em>
\nMake-up: Melissa Minne – Melissa Minne Hair & Make-up Artistry<\/em>
\nVenue: Botanical Gardens Restaurant.<\/em><\/p>\n