Candy Tsa Mandebele Mokwena was born in July 19, 1970, in the province of Limpopo.[1] Mandebele has three siblings, At the age of 14 Mokwena started performing as a soloist in her Mother's community traditional group Sekgapa choir (her mother was the group leader and also played the drum for the group), in the village of Ga- Sedibeni.[2] Mandebele grew up without her biological father[3] Mandebele also attended public school in Limpopo, she did not receive formal schooling, she dropped out of school at grade nine.