I KNOW WHERE I COME FROM, KNOW WHERE I’M NOW AND KNOW WHERE I’M GOING. Ettiene Marais
My story
I was born in Vredendal on 15 October 1968 and lived on a small farming community called Koekenaap. I am one of three children of which I am the youngest. My father an officer of the Department of Water Resources and mother a housewife of stature. We move around quite a few times because of dad’s work. Hendrik Verwoerddam, Groot Marico, Riversdal and Kraaifontein. I start my primary school career on Skuinsdrift, Nietverdiend. Kraaifontein Primary School later became Simonsberg Primary School after which I completed my Senior career in Eben Donges HS in 1986.
I joined the SA Police, completed my basic training in Pretoria during 1987. Special Guard Unit Cape Town, Kraaifontein Saps, Mobile Unit Belville, Durbanville and Crime Stop Western Cape as Captain Crime Stop. With much favor on my side, I was promoted to the rank of Captain, moved to Provincial Office Western Cape’s Social Crime Prevention projects and later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Head of Crime Prevention, Milnerton SAPS. I left the service during 2006 and entered the full-time ministry as a minister. I like to make music, play some instruments and even sing too.
On 24 March 1990 I married my dream woman Linette and Anke Lee became part of our life with her birth in 1999 and Armand Ettiene in 2003.
I studied Theology from 1992, was ordained as a pastor and completed my Ph.D in leadership development in 2011.
I became involved with Radio Tygerberg in 1998 as an announcer, gave talks at schools, did projects and regularly acted as MC for various ministers as well as general staff in the SAPS. Announcer at sporting events, auctioneer at auctions and minister as well as motivational speaker. I also regularly talk on other radio stations such as RSG, Radio Kansel and JouStasie.
During 2015 I left the full-time ministry in a congregation and planted, an independent congregation where I still serve as minister. I am also a registered marriage officer and marry people.
I go through several courses in speech delivery at Unisa and also complete my training as a Mediator at Social Justice for alternative dispute resolution through mediation.
March 2020 I get involved in Droogtehulp with Burre Burger and serve farmers and their families during outreaches to drought-affected areas in South Africa to date.
My passion is people. My family is my everything and I live for them.
Rhythmically with Ettiene was born during the Covid pandemic in 2020 where I started reaching out to people across the country and even elsewhere by sending out morning motivations via whatts app as well as other social platforms.
The journey was not all moonlight and roses and after quite a few setbacks and hard falls, I decided to take up my passion again and reach out to people with my story.
