A humble beginning in the mining town of Carletonville led to the rise of a respected entrepreneur in South Africa’s events and hospitality industry. Rakgadi Motloba’s journey is one of resilience, ambition, and reinvention. Born and raised in Khutsong, she grew up in a household where her mother was the family’s sole provider, shaping her determination to build a better future.
Academically gifted from an early age, Rakgadi earned government funding to attend Central State School in Pretoria, a former whites-only school during apartheid. While still in high school, she became the face of Black Like Me, worked with the SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation), and participated in beauty pageants, experiences that built her confidence and introduced her to branding and communication.
After matriculating in 1994, she studied teaching at the Transvaal College of Education and briefly worked as a teacher before transitioning into the corporate sector. Her career included roles at the South African Tourism Board, Connex Travel, Esselen Park Conference Centre, Netball South Africa, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, where she gained valuable experience in tourism, hospitality, public relations, and business management.
While working at DBSA, Rakgadi identified a gap in the events industry and founded RPM Events and Décor Company . What started as a catering and décor business grew into a full-scale events management and equipment hire company offering catering, décor, conference setup, furniture hire, and project management services.
Today, RPM supplies major venues and institutions including the NH Hotel, Protea Hotels, Premier Hotels & Resorts, Emperors Palace, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The company owns thousands of conference chairs, tables, glassware, crockery, and catering equipment, as well as its own fleet of trucks and laundry facility. Through consistent reinvestment, Rakgadi has built an asset-rich business with equipment valued at more than R20 million.
Beyond business success, Rakgadi is deeply passionate about mentorship and empowerment. Her company employs around 19 people, many of whom she personally mentored through internships and training opportunities. She believes true leadership is about helping others grow beyond the organization and create opportunities for themselves.
“As much as I wanted to build a successful business, I also wanted to uplift others and show people from backgrounds like mine that it is possible to create opportunities for yourself and your community,” she says.
Rakgadi’s journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and long-term vision. From a challenging childhood in Carletonville to building a successful events and hospitality business, she has transformed adversity into opportunity while creating a legacy of empowerment and sustainable growth.
