Love Trips hosts launch for Mother’s Day
“I love being a mother. It is very important to me, I can handle it even without a man. I am a mother and father to my children, and I manage life as it goes on,”
A group of ladies from Love Trips, along with partners Rose and Jojo (RnJ), gathered to celebrate Mother’s Day at Establishment Restaurant, Spruitview, on May 8.
The rainy and cold weather did not stop mothers from celebrating their special day, as at least 40 members from LTO shared lunch and exchanged Mother’s Day gifts.
Founder of LTO, Ouma Motaung (59), was excited to celebrate Mother’s Day with group members as they also welcomed members who recently joined.
According to Motaung, before initiating the group, she travelled with her family and organized trips to various holiday destinations for other people.
She said many people requested to travel with her, hence she started the group in 2016 shortly after she bought a hotel.
Although Motaung said she bought the hotel for herself and her family, she ended up renting it out after she was advised to do so. The first group to rent the space was her group LT.
“So far we have Mozambique, Cape Town, Durban, Island and many other places. We partnered with RnJ to help as we have many members,” says Motaung.
One of the new group members Caroline Rathotse (55) said she a proud to be a mother despite the challenges that come with it. She has two children – her firstborn is 37 and her second-born is 27.
“I love being a mother and it is very important to me to handle it even without a man. I am a mother and father to my children, and I manage life as it goes on,” said Rathotse.
Motaung’s daughter, Lebogang Thobela (46) said a mother holds a knife by the blade, which means a mother will do anything in her power to protect her child from danger.
She said Mother’s Day is a day for mothers to prioritise themselves.
“As women we are respectful. We are mothers raising children as single parents. We raise them to fear the Lord because where I come from we are religious people,” she continued.
“When you are a mother you have to respect yourself. We are raising girls and have to teach them that they do not have to be in a marriage because they fear people’s judgement or fulfil the families’ demands,”
“We have to teach our girls that you can be a single parent because your marriage or men will not help you to survive. We can stand on our own as mothers, is what I teach my daughter,” said Thobela.
She said she joined the group when her mother started it in 2016 and has been travelling with her mother’s LT group members.
“What I love most about the group is the unity. As mothers, we encourage and motivate each other as we are all from different backgrounds. When we are together we know about those that do not have been assisted because we share whatever we have,” said Thobela.
Joyce Leshota and Rosemary Mokoti of RnJ partnered with LT after the group got scammed when they arranged to travel to the Portuguese Island.
RnJ functions as a travel agent booking accommodation, transport and activities for their clients who are either interested in domestic or international travel.
Leshota told Kathorus MAIL they enjoy working with LT, believing that they are trustworthy and have good communication.
Mokoti believes that they have common goals and enjoy a good relationship.
“We believe that when women go on trips, they get refreshed and exposed to different environments, even going with senior citizens as we wish to do once a year,” said Mokoti.
Leshota explained that their company plans trips every three months. However, international trips are done once a year to give people enough time to raise funds as international trips are likely to be a bit expensive.
For more information contact Mokoti on, 083 695 5337 or Leshota on, 061 337 3072. Alternatively, email Joyce.Leshota@gauteng.gov.za.
