Martha Susanna Lubbe was born in Springs as the youngest daughter of the late Peet and Betsie Griesel. She completes her school career in 1982 at High School Potchefstroom Gimnasium. Martie obtained her BPharm degree (Cum Laude) in 1986, an MPharm degree in Pharmacy Practice (1988), a Diploma in Tertiary Education (1996) and a PhD in Pharmacy Practice (2000) at the former PU for CHE. The title of her PhD thesis is "Managed pharmaceutical care: A South African approach". She married Willie in 1995 and they have a daughter, Leonore, and a son, Dewald.