He received his first book on magic at the age of 5 from his aunt who also happened to be his pre-school teacher. At the time Martino was a famous magician on TV and Johan loved his shows. During his primary school years Johan discovered a great love for the entertainment industry and thought that he would become a singer one day. He never thought of becoming a professional magician.

During his high school years Johan did well in sports and even thought about pursuing a career in athletics. But it was at the age of 16 while on holiday in the Game Reseves of Kwa-Zulu Natal that Johan started spending time reading his magic books again. He practiced the tricks and tried them out on the staff working at the reserve and on petrol attendants on the way back from holiday.

Johan realized that he always wanted to be in show business and magic was what he wanted to do. Soon the kids at school started calling him 'magic man'. That was the beginning of big things for him.

Near the end of his matric year Johan made his first TV appearance on the TV show called Yo-TV on SABC 1. During that December directly after finishing school Johan started touring South Africa mainly performing at holiday resorts. When schools opened again after the holidays he started performing country wide at schools and soon established as a full time entertainer.

The following year while touring South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia performing at Furniture Store Promo's Johan was approached and offered the opportunity to perform overseas. Johan grabbed the opportunity.

Johan did more than 1000 shows in Theme Parks in Taiwan where he changed a girl into a huge Bengal Tiger and he walked through mirrors to name a few.

After returning back to South Africa Johan started his own entertainment agency he called Global Africa Entertainment. Soon he got a big contract with SASOL where Johan was responsible for all the entertainment at all the SASOL filling stations that opened country wide.

Meanwhile he continued performing his magic and was now touring the country with a big magic and illusion show complete with crew and dancers.

During this period Johan got a contract to perform close-up magic at Carnival City Casino three days a week. It was during the same period he decided to take his career (and magic in South Africa) to the next level:

Johan announced in the media that he is going to make the huge Voortrekker Monument disappear in front of a live audience. This pioneering event was not only a great success but took magic in South Africa to the next level and received very big publicity in the print, on radio and on TV locally and overseas.

The Vanishing Monument was the biggest illusion ever done in South Africa and one of the biggest buildings ever vanished.

Another highlight was when Johan made a car disappear in the Big Top Arena at Carnival City Casino.

Johan is an entertainer, entertainment agent, event co-coordinator and also promotes artists like singers, dancers and bands and helps them to find their own spot in the entertainment industry.

Johan regularly has contracts in the Far East where he stages shows at Theme Parks and casino's starring local talent. He is proud to have some of the biggest casino companies in the world like the famous Sands casino and more on his list of clients. Many of the shows at the casinos in the Las Vegas of the Far East, Macau, were put together and casted by Johan.