Mariette van Niekerk

Any business woman must know that “the sky is the limit”; one can CHOOSE to be happy and successful. Never limit yourself, because you can and may reach much more if you allow yourself to reach for it.

For the first 18 years of her life, Mariette van Niekerk lived in Bethlehem, where she also completed her schooling. She grew up in a house where children were taught to fight their own battles. “No homework, assignments or speeches were written for us and when we were in trouble, we had to handle it ourselves.” She honours her father in particular, whom she regards as her personal mentor. “Although he passed away when I was only 29 years old, he had the greatest influence on my life. He taught me that I should never give up, and one has to fail to be successful”. The result is that she can handle disappointment very well:

a very useful skill in business. “My father also taught me that one is in control of one’s own emotions; one has to determine one’s own race; and one should never allow other people to determine what you think of yourself. He always said that one’s happiness is not determined by one’s circumstances, but by the choices one makes.”

This ambitious mother of four studied law at the University of the Free State, and at the age of 28 she was admitted as an advocate in the High Court of South Africa. However, after the birth of her second child she resigned from her legal career and became regional manager of Smile Educational Toys. After the birth of the fourth child Mariette decided to try her hand at the property industry. “At that stage, it was the ideal work for me, because I could plan my appointments around my family’s needs, activities and sport.”

Mariette was thrown in at the deep end by a “very cheerful principal” at New World Properties and she immediately realised that she enjoyed that type of work immensely. After

the principal had waved the property world farewell, Mariette worked at another three major property firms during the following three years.

Mariette used every possible opportunity to learn more about the industry. “I attended every course, read a lot and asked if I did not know or understand.” During this time, there were two principals and a manager from whom she learnt a lot, not only about business, but also regarding her personal growth as a person and a Property Consultant. During this time, many of her friends encouraged her to start her own business, but she believed that she would know when the time was ripe.

At the beginning of January 2017, after 11 years in the industry, Mariette at last started her own agency, Mikaya Real Estate. Mariette is duly registered with the Estate Agency Affairs Board and achieved the professional status of Professional Practitioner Real Estate in 2015.

Mariette’s qualifications and experience include the following:

QUALIFICATIONS

1990 - B.Proc (University of the Free State)

1992 – LLB (University of the Free State)

1995 - Admitted as an Advocate in the Supreme Court of SA

2009 - NQF4 and NQF5 for Estate Agents

2015 - PDE 4 (Professional Practitioner Real Estate)

EXPERIENCE AS ESTATE AGENT

2004: Start career at New World Properties - Best Rookie Agent

2005: New World Properties merged with Seeff Bloemfontein

2006: Seeff Bloemfontein: Top Agent

2007-2008: Join Chass Everitt

2008-2014: Join AIDA Bloemfontein

2010-2014: AIDA Bloemfontein Top Agent

2010-2011: AIDA National Annual Inland Awards: Top Agent Overall

2014: AIDA Bloemfontein merged with RealNet Bloemfontein

2015-2016: Realnet Bloemfontein: Top Agent: 3rd place

2015-2016: Realnet National Annual Awards: Silver Status Certificate and Million Rand

Certificate for excellent performance

2017: Start own Business, Mikaya Real Estate, Principle and Managing Director