Before Swiff, I was a 21-year-old immigrant who had lost everything. After an injury at work, I found myself unemployed, without a clear path forward. The people who were supposed to help me get back on my feet looked at me and said, "Sorry mate, you're on your own." At that moment, I felt completely broken—isolated, helpless, and lost.

I wasn't eligible for any government assistance or study privileges, and I had no idea how to rebuild my life. I considered returning to South Africa, even if it meant going back just to get a degree and try to secure a stable job. It felt like everything I worked for had vanished in an instant.

One day, after receiving yet another email from a company rejecting my job application with the words, “Sorry, but your application was unsuccessful,” I reached a breaking point. That was the moment I realized that if I wanted to change my life, no one was going to save me—I had to do it myself. It was a wake-up call. I knew I could no longer wait for opportunities that might never come.

That day, Swiff was born.

I took a step back and thought long and hard about what I wanted to do. I had spent years working in the cleaning industry, starting as a motel cleaner and eventually working for a few different cleaning companies. I had gained invaluable experience, learning the ins and outs of the business and gaining expertise along the way. I knew exactly what I wanted—and, just as importantly, what I didn’t want—for my own business.

From poor pay, to funds being withheld with no explanation, to being absolutely overworked to the point where I felt like I was going to drop dead, I had seen it all. There were times when I was paid well below minimum wage simply because I had no other option. I was constantly pushed to my limits, and it left me frustrated and exhausted.

But those experiences shaped my vision for Swiff. I knew I wanted to create a company where employees were valued, fairly compensated, and never overworked. A company where the focus was on quality, customer satisfaction, and a team that felt supported and respected. I didn’t want to replicate the toxic, unsustainable practices I had endured—I wanted Swiff to be the exact opposite.

And so, I took the leap. I started my own cleaning business, driven by the lessons I had learned from both the good and bad sides of the industry. Swiff was built on a foundation of integrity, transparency, and a deep commitment to doing things the right way. I wanted Swiff to stand for excellence—cleaning done with care, professionalism, and a genuine desire to make a difference in people’s lives.

Today, we are celebrating some truly amazing milestones at Swiff, and I couldn't be more proud of how far we've come. Swiff has grown into something bigger than I ever could have dreamed, and though we are still a young company, the journey has been nothing short of incredible. What started as a dream to create a business founded on integrity and hard work has become a thriving, trusted service.

I am immensely proud of the company Swiff has become, and even more excited for the company it’s yet to grow into. We’ve made great strides, not just in the services we provide, but in the way we treat our clients, our team, and our community. Swiff is built on the belief that with the right mindset and dedication, anything is possible.

Along the way, I was finally able to qualify for government support, something that once seemed so out of reach. I will forever be grateful to the Ministry of Social Development. After a long and challenging process, I applied for the small business start-up grant and was approved. That grant became the key to turning my dreams into reality.

Words cannot express how thankful I am for their support. It was a gift that changed the course of my life, and one I will continue to pay forward for the rest of my life. Helping others, just as I was helped, has become a core part of the values I hold at Swiff, and I strive every day to create opportunities for others to succeed, just as I have been fortunate enough to do.

Looking ahead, my dream for Swiff is to continue growing into the incredible company I know it will become. I envision a future where Swiff not only provides top-quality cleaning services but also serves as a beacon of hope for those who need it most. I want to create a lasting legacy—one that goes beyond business success and touches the lives of people in meaningful ways.

My ultimate goal is to start a foundation that helps those who, like me, have faded into the cracks of society. People who have felt forgotten, overlooked, or left behind. Just as I once struggled, I want to help others who are facing their own challenges, giving them the support and opportunities they deserve to rise above their circumstances.

Swiff will become more than just a cleaning company—it will be a symbol of resilience, compassion, and community. I want it to be a place where people know that hard work truly counts for something amazing. The work we do at Swiff will lay the foundation for something much bigger—a future where we pay our gratitude forward, helping kids and people who are where I once was, giving them the chance to find their own way to success.

I’m driven by the belief that success should never be just for the few; it should be something that lifts others along the way. That is the true meaning of making all my hard work count—creating a legacy that will inspire hope and change, just as I was inspired to change my own life.