Mom Turns Bedroom into Affordable Spa for the Elderly in Duduza

• A mom in Duduza has turned her bedroom into a stunning yet affordable Spa
• Zanele Nqubelo’s home Spa is designed to serve pensioners with care
• The South African mother launched the senior-focused Spa from her bedroom

A mother from Duduza, Nigel, has transformed a single bedroom in her family home into a cosy spa for senior citizens, offering affordable treatments and restoring dignity to the elderly in her community.

Zanele Nqubelo (44), affectionately known as Zaza, says she launched the initiative in June 2025 after more than five years without steady work. With two children to support and a passion for working with older people, she created a space where pensioners could relax and receive care close to home.

In a province like Gauteng, where unemployment has reached 34.7% and national female unemployment is around 35.9% many women face similar barriers.

“In South Africa, it’s tough to find a job. I love working with the elderly. Many of them struggle with ailments that limit their daily lives. Through my spa, I can help them feel special, cared for, and able to let go for a bit,” Zanele told Briefly News.

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A mother’s sacrifice makes it possible

Zanele’s mother, Grace Nqubezelo, used part of her SASSA grant to buy the equipment needed to start the business.

“I just want my daughter to have a business of her own where she can work and make a living for her kids,” Grace said. “Seeing her take care of her children and bring this service to the elderly is a blessing for me.”

This family support reflects the reality of many South African households, where relatives often pool resources to survive or launch small businesses. With over 30% of the province unemployed and women particularly affected, small enterprises like Zanele’s are not only survival strategies but paths to dignity and financial independence.

Senior citizens are already seeing the benefits

Although run from a single bedroom, the spa has already attracted a loyal clientele. Many of Zanele’s clients live with chronic conditions like diabetes or joint stiffness. Studies show that regular massage therapy can lower blood sugar, reduce neuropathic pain, and improve foot circulation, easing complications for diabetic seniors.

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Zanele currently offers full-body massages, foot and leg massages, and facials, with plans to expand into hand therapy, gentle exfoliation, aromatherapy, and nail care tailored to seniors’ needs. Prices start from as little as R150, and the spa operates on weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm, making it accessible for pensioners to visit regularly.

“After the massage, I feel revitalised and renewed. I suffer from diabetes, and sometimes my body locks up, but her treatments are affordable and address the needs of the elderly. It’s just a walk away from my house; it’s peaceful, and afterwards I feel young again,” said 63-year-old client Ntombizodwa Dhladhla.

Hope for growth and community impact

Grace believes the venture gives her daughter a chance to build a future. “She’s been unemployed for more than five years now. This spa brings hope,” she added.

Industry experts say senior-focused spas can play a crucial role in preventative health, especially in communities where public healthcare services are stretched.

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Zanele hopes her business will grow beyond the family home

“One day, I want to make enough to buy or rent a bigger space for my spa and later have franchises in malls around South Africa. This is just the beginning of something great,” she said.

Her story highlights how small, community-based initiatives can create jobs, restore dignity, and bring essential services closer to South Africa’s most vulnerable citizens.

4 Briefly News stories about Good Samaritans

• Anonymous do-gooder, BI Phakathi, left an elderly woman floored after surprising her with money when she was walking a long distance.
• Some generous teachers made the time to pamper some of their learners who are in need.
• People applauded a hardworking single mother who used her business to help people in Desperate situations in her community.
• Another lady single-handedly fed more than 100 people, among other charitable activities in the Limpopo area.

Source: Briefly News