Growing up in the rural village of Mashite in the Ga-Mphahlele area, Limpopo, an Attorney Stephney Hlokoa never allowed her humble beginnings to define her future.
Raised in a family of nine, she understood from an early age that education would be the key to unlocking opportunities beyond the dusty streets of her village.
Today, the 27-year-old Hlokoa is the director of her own Polokwane-based law firm, RSH (short for Ramoloetji Stephney Hlokoa), a remarkable achievement that reflects years of dedication, resilience, and determination.
Reflecting on her journey, Hlokoa said education was always at the centre of her ambitions.
“Growing up in a rural village, I knew that if I wanted to change my circumstances, I had to take my education seriously. I believed that education would open doors that seemed impossible to reach,” she said.
After matriculating, Hlokoa received life-changing news when she was accepted to study Economics at the University of Limpopo. She embraced the opportunity with determination and successfully completed her degree after three years of study.
However, obtaining her Economics qualification was only the beginning.
Driven by a growing passion for justice, advocacy and community development, she decided to pursue a second degree in Law (LLB).
“I wanted to understand the legal system and use my knowledge to help communities, especially people from rural areas who often struggle to access legal services and information,” Hlokoa explained.
Her academic journey was not without challenges. While studying law, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the country to a standstill. As many people struggled with uncertainty and anxiety, Hlokoa used the period to develop a new skill that would later become a successful business venture.
She discovered a passion for crocheting, creating handmade items such as hats, tops and skirts during her spare time.
“What started as a hobby quickly became something much bigger. Fellow students and lecturers began showing interest in my work, and I realised there was an opportunity to turn my creativity into a business,” she said.
Recognising the growing demand for her products, Hlokoa transformed her hobby into a small crochet business, proving that entrepreneurship can emerge even during difficult times.
Four years later, she proudly graduated with her LLB degree and continued her legal training by attending the School for Legal Practice. Soon afterwards, she secured an opportunity to serve her articles at a reputable law firm.
Working alongside experienced legal practitioners helped sharpen her legal knowledge and practical skills.
“My articles provided invaluable experience. I learnt from seasoned professionals and gained confidence in applying the law to real-life situations,” she said.
Her hard work eventually paid off when she was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.
Today, Hlokoa is the director of her own law firm, located at 58-60 Landros Mare Street, 3rd Floor, Thabakgolo Building, Polokwane. Her practice offers a range of services including civil and criminal litigation, divorce matters, debt collection, deceased estates and correspondent legal work.
Despite her success, Hlokoa remains committed to uplifting others and inspiring young people to pursue their dreams.
“Your background does not determine your future. Whether you come from a village or a city, success is possible if you remain focused, work hard and believe in yourself. Challenges will come, but persistence and confidence will carry you through,” she said.
Her story stands as a powerful reminder that dreams nurtured in the smallest villages can grow into remarkable achievements. Through education, entrepreneurship and perseverance, Stephney Hlokoa has transformed her ambitions into a thriving legal career while creating opportunities for others along the way.
Attorney Hlokoa is also available on her social media handles as follows:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rsh_attorneys_inc?igsh=MnI3cGpsbHI0aXk%3D&utm_source=ig_contact_invite
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rsh_attorneys_inc1?_r=1&_t=ZS-977WU158yAr
