Startup Story
Getting access to good, affordable and nutritious food that can also help in addressing obesity, diabetes and malnutrition is a challenge for many communities in South Africa. For entrepreneur Sibongile Mtsabe, founder of Sibocali Traders, that challenge provided the inspiration for the launch of her agriprocessing business.
LoA chatted to Sibongile Mtsabe to find out more about this impact driven business that is making a difference to people’s health and wellness.
What does your company do?
At Sibocali Traders, we process indigenous roots into crispy chips, gluten free flour and instant porridge.
“There is a need to produce foodstuffs that will assist in helping us to eat what we like while also curbing obesity, diabetes and malnutrition.”
“Our products are new to the market, are packed with nutrition, and are easy to digest which is good for our gut.”
What inspired you to start your company?
There is a need to produce foodstuffs that will assist in helping us to eat what we like while also curbing obesity, diabetes and malnutrition.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Our products are new to the market, are packed with nutrition, and are easy to digest which is good for our gut.
Tell us a little about your team
Our team is passionate about what we do, and always looking forward to pleasing our customers.
“Our vision is to play a significant role on economic development of rural and township communities using agriculture as means to generate income, helping communities to realize their potential and implement projects to create a legacy that will feed and empower generations in Africa.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I believe in financially independent rural and township communities. The reality is, there is not enough income in these areas. A girl called Ayanda goes to the township from the village to look for greener pastures in the city because of lack of opportunities and minimal economical involvement in her village. She could not afford to pay for a decent apartment in the city and the option was the Mayville Township close to Durban which offered a cheaper shack. She left a good and warm home to stay in an informal settlement in quest of searching greener pastures. This exposed her to falling in trap of dating sugar daddies, to get money for survival and a chance of an unwanted pregnancy. We met with Ayanda and we discovered that there is unused land in her home that can be used to better her family and her neighbours’ lives. We gave seeds to them in Magabheni Village the southern side of Kwa Zulu Natal and bought back some vegetables and they were very happy about it.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Our vision is to play a significant role on economic development of rural and township communities using agriculture as means to generate income, helping communities to realize their potential and implement projects to create a legacy that will feed and empower generations in Africa.
Our mission is to assist in initiating, implementing and installing various agriculture projects in rural and township communities. We are also committed to educating communities about the importance of food security and helping them to install their own farms, while creating market access platforms, job creation, and entrepreneurship opportunities and encouraging a buy local strategy approach always.
“We are committed to educating communities about the importance of food security and helping them to install their own farms, while creating market access platforms, job creation, and entrepreneurship opportunities and encouraging a buy local strategy approach always.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
When more lives are changed and there is income and peace in homes through bringing opportunities and platforms to trade to communities. Seeing that there is less crime and people using their talents to live and change communities.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Never give up, good things come to those who seek them diligently
Contact or follow Sibocali Traders
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL sibocali@gmail.com
More about the founder
Sibocali Traders cc. was founded by an entrepreneur, marketer, who since 2009 has been a creative leader, although she was still working in the corporate world until 2011 when she started doing research and some activities in farming. Sibongile Mtsabe is a woman and a sole owner of this enterprise; she has obtained a Bachelor of Technology in Marketing Degree at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, National Certificate in Multimedia and NQF Level 4 in Project Management. Also, she has obtained knowledge through training in crops, poultry, fish farming, piggery imports and exports in international marketing and was a member of the Ygap boot camp training cohort 2019. She possess a passion for growing crops, raising fish, assisting communities to grow steadily economically and thrive.
Why LoA loves it…
In South Africa, there are challenges in tackling obesity, diabetes and malnutrition in local communities. Getting access to good, affordable nutrition made from local ingredients is key to finding a solution. Sibongile Mtsabe is an entrepreneur who sees agriprocessing and the creation of affordable, nutritious foodstuffs as the mission of her business, at the same time educating local communities about the importance of food security. She is making a real difference to the lives of those who most need her help with nutrition. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa