Gentlemen’s Stories

Frans Borman

Audio Visual Storyteller

Who are you?
‘Pepi Dimevski. I’m a Tattooist and owner of SA Hardcore Social Club. Originally from Macadonia, I’ve been in South Africa for 14 years now and this is where I started my own tattoo shop. It is a very established tattoo shop today.’
What are you passionate about?
‘Music and tattooing’
What makes you the person that you are?
‘I’m a very dedicated person with everything that I do. I put in 100%.’
What is success to you?
‘To be recognised for what you have been doing all your life, so I hope I will be recognised as a good tattooist and a good musician.’
What’s your drink of choice?
‘Single malt whiskey. I collect whiskey. I will drink any good whiskey from peated to non- peated and salty to spicy. If I’m having a cigar with my whiskey I will choose a whiskey that is matured in a cherry cask which is a little sweeter or matured in a bourbon cask. I will always have a very peated whiskey after a meal, so it’s hard for me to choose a single whiskey that I enjoy because I enjoy them all.’
Where do draw inspiration from:
a. Music?
‘Bands inspire me. Music from many different genres from old school blues folk to punk and hardcore inspires me. But in general, daily lifestyle inspires me too.’
b. Art?
‘Now it is for sure a lifestyle of tattooing but in the beginning when I started tattooing obviously I had more time to draw, so I would draw a lot, and I get to draw every day. Tattooing is drawing up custom designs or even freehand work that we do straight on to the skin. I have been tattooing for 22 years and have gone through many styles throughout all that time and I enjoy all styles but people do recognise my work more as a black and grey religion themed angelic style.’

Who are you?
Otsile Mogale, a work hard, play hard kind of guy. I’m very focused when I’m in the office but know how to let my hair down when I leave. I’m very sporty. I easily swap between my suits and my sporting gear. A healthy body equals a healthy mind.
What are you passionate about?
Making myself and the people around me proud of what I have achieved over the years with their support. One thing I have learned, you can’t pursue your passion without others’ support.
What makes you the person that you are?
To get to where I am now at nearly thirty years old I have had to put in a lot of hard work. Many late nights, constantly questioning myself, but with a ‘I will get there’ attitude – knowing that the goal I have set myself is achievable and that I will achieve it. Daily lessons help me get where I want to be. I won’t give up. After school, I had to study for another 5 years, then articled for 2 years and I have been an associate attorney for the last year. My goal is to be the best version of myself. My mom always says, ‘it’s not how you start, but how you finish’.
What is success to you?
I think success is being able to be proud of what I have achieved and the way I have achieved it. Being happy that that success has come the way that I wanted it to. My way.
Why do you wear a suit?
More often or not, because of my profession. A great fitted suit makes one much more confident. Being in front of a judge makes you realise how important having a few power suits in your wardrobe is.

Gentlemen’s Stories

Theresho Selesho

Who are you?
Theresho Selesho. Originating from Elim, Limpopo. I am a Creative Entrepreneur. Matchbox Live, CEO. I’m involved in the entertainment, communication and hospitality industries.
What are you passionate about?
A few things, but to simplify, I’m passionate about business and creativity and where those two meet and cross and the positive effects that may help in advancing us as people and culture. Through the balancing of these two worlds we learn a lot about ourselves and can advance as a people. It’s an ongoing dialogue between those 2 worlds which must be nurtured.
What makes you the person that you are?
I am a collector of experiences, be it People. Music. Travel. Food. Meeting and working with diverse teams from very various backgrounds and industries stretches one in many ways, which I appreciate. My family is a key part of my life and brings purpose in all my endeavors, their support allows me to thrive.
I am also a big believer in just simply putting in the hours and the work to get things done. This belief has carried me through my young professional life. Nurturing my network and relationships along with seeing people around me grow is vital in how I navigate through life.
What is success to you?
I’m always redefining what success is to me. I always try and completely own every stage of my life, which adds to my growth and the advancement of the people around me including making a dent in the industry that I operate in, which I see as a responsibility, you have to leave the space better than you found it. I was introduced to the idea of “divine discontentment” of one’s past successes while I was working at Ogilvy which I love and have embraced.
What is your drink of choice?
I make myself a mean black Americano or two everyday.

Gentlemen’s Stories

Keshin Govender

Who are you?
I’m Keshin Govender. Born and raised in Durban, currently living in Johannesburg. A Marketier and Citizen of the World, Made in Africa.
What are you passionate about?
It’s never been an easy question to answer. Being passionate about something is the ultimate source of creativity. It comes from a moment, an interaction, an engagement – whether it’s a song I’m listening to or a piece of art that I’m experiencing its there if it connects with me. I feel it if I’m travelling a new country and I sit down with a local to see the city through their eyes or more recently experiencing life in a whole new context by rediscovering inspiration through my 1 year old daughter.
What makes you the person that you are?
The person that I am today has a lot to do with people I’ve grown up alongside and my family that shaped the rebellious, trouble-maker side of me – in fact it was encouraged. I grew up during a troubled time in South Africa’s history with my family at the coalface of the struggle against injustice. I have vivid memories from that time. Its that context that has created the person I am today and it’s why I continue be involved in conversations around the principles of sustainable peace, human rights and the democratic participation of people in all spheres of society.
What is success to you?
Success to me is defined by a sense of purpose and accomplishment. I measure my place in this world through a global sense of humanity. Asking the question everyday; what else can I do to contribute to a better world? If I have an answer to that question – that’s success. If I don’t – I try again.
What is your drink of choice?
Any really good IPA. A few years ago I couldn’t stand it – but being lucky enough to get to travel as often as I do, I get to sample the beers of the world and the worlds bar culture and it became my drink of choice. I’m putting together my own ‘beer-o-graphy’ collecting memorabilia from the different styles of beer and the different countries that I’ve visited. Some of the best bars in the world are right here in Jozi –the rest in Berlin.