13. Reabetswe Ngwane
Vital Stats:
- Business: In Bloom and Mememe
- Established: 2017
Up-and-coming fact:
Ngwane is the first to break into the market of seat protectors (and later masks) for miners, as a result of knocking on multiple doors and speaking to miners about their needs.
When her first venture (recycling plastic into schoolbags) dissolved, Ngwane she came up with an innovative idea to turn old tyres into fashionable accessories for retail and respiratory bags, seta protectors and masks for the mining industry. Her idea piqued the interest of REDISA (Recycling and Economic Development Initiative in South Africa) who now run one of her depots. Ngwane has opened two stores – Mememe in Cape Town and In Bloom in Pretoria – where she sells her bags, which are also available online.