MOKOPANE – Makgabo (39) has recently been elected as president of the Potgietersrus Rotary Club where she must take the lead for the following year, but she is a bird of many feathers and is also the manager of Folang Medical Centre in Mokopane and Polokwane and owner of two guest houses in Mokopane and Centurion called Folang Guest Manor.
“I am a busy woman but through praying and being positive I get through my everyday tasks.”
Makgabo is married to Dr Putswana Senoamedi and they have two children. She grew up in Teneriffe village and matriculated at Nthuba High School. After her school years, she studied to become a dietitian but never finished with only a year left to go.
She then decided to start studying for her degree in business management at Durban University of Technology and her project manager degree at Varsity College in Gauteng.
“I am very displeased now that I know I could have used my dietitian skills alongside my management skills. I should have finished with that degree as well, but my passion lies in management. I love what I do.”
She started joining the Rotarian’s when she was at university as a rotaractor. This means that she was a young adult who took part in a Rotary international youth programme.
“It was very difficult at a young age for me to be part of something this big, but I love giving time to others. I’m not a receiver but a giver.”
Makgabo has been part of the Potgietersrus Rotary club for three years as well as many other organisations including Black Management Forum (BMF), South African Women in Mining Association (SAWIMA), South African Women Entrepreneurs Network (SAWEN), The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC) and Business Women’s Association (BWA) who she is currently still apart of.
She says: “When I was elected as the President of the Rotary Club I was overwhelmed but not too much. I am used to being apart of organisations like this.
“I only feel like the club is not about me but more about us all who belong to it. We can achieve more by standing together as one. That way it is easier to give back.”
Makgabo boasts with the fact that she appreciates South Africa as a country. “Being part of the Rotary Club I experience enormous amounts of opportunities. I learned how to be humble and I learned how to grow stronger. I have travelled to many places like China and Nigeria. To be honest, South Africa is still the best.”
Makgabo says that there are many projects on her mind that she would like the community of Mokopane to be part of this upcoming months and year.
“We are very excited about our blanket and book project. I think people must start reading again. Anyone can bring blankets, even clothes and books to us to distribute to various schools and the less fortunate.
“There will also be a specific date which people can bring abundances of these items.
“We are also working on the World Diabetes Day project. This is our biggest project at the moment which will be held in November.
“We are also planning a golf day for next year May.”
Makgabo says that the Potgietersrus Rotary club’s previous president, Blondie McGlashan, as well as other members lie very close to her heart.
“Now that Blondie is gone, I still call her for advice and she never declines. I hope that we can grow as an organisation and that more dedicated members can join.
“You must understand that being part of this club is not about being selfish. I value time and money because that is exactly what we as Rotarians put back into the community.”
