Sebudisi Mafabatho, founder of She-Eco Roof Tiles, has carved a niche at the intersection of sustainability and entrepreneurship. Following her recognition at the TotalEnergies Startupper of the Year Challenge, Sebudisi has continued to build a business that transforms plastic waste into durable, eco-friendly roofing solutions – a venture that combines technical expertise, environmental responsibility and a vision for social impact.
She-Eco Roof Tiles produces tiles made from 30% recycled plastic. With an approximate 100-year lifespan, the tiles are lightweight, corrosion-resistant and paintable. Each tile removes an average of four 2 litre plastic bottles from the environment, a small but meaningful contribution to tackling South Africa’s plastic pollution problem.
“I’ve always been a very ambitious young girl,” Sebudisi reflects. “I grew up in the Vaal Triangle and attended primary and high school there. One thing that kept me going was my dream of building a highly successful manufacturing company.” Her ambition, nurtured through years of study in Johannesburg and Cape Town, is now driving a business that tackles real environmental and social challenges.
Sebudisi’s aha moment came in response to local pollution. “The Vaal River was heavily polluted at the time and there was a national movement to rehabilitate it. My best friend and business partner got the contract to help clean the river. Working on-site and seeing how much pollution was affecting it is how She-Eco was born.”
Her entrepreneurial journey is grounded in preparation and expertise. “One of the things that set me apart during the Startupper Challenge was my presentation,” she explains. “It was very technical – from the production line to machine capacity. I knew my business inside out.” While prizes are valuable, she notes that the experience offered something equally important: validation. “For somebody to believe in my business and provide funding, that’s a big deal. Every entrepreneur needs some form of external validation.”
The Tough Business of Entrepreneur
Being her own boss is far from glamorous. “It’s hard. When you’re responsible for yourself and others, the accountability is huge. We aspire to have 400 employees, but even paying seven people makes you realise the number of lives you’re impacting. That responsibility keeps me going every day.”
Beyond financial rewards, Sebudisi finds fulfillment in the tangible outcomes of her work. “Paying salaries reminds me that this is bigger than me. Decisions I make affect many people. That sense of responsibility drives me to do things well.”
When asked what she would do in a world without pollution, climate challenges, or financial constraints, Sebudisi’s answer is simple: “I’d be hiking on a mountain and swimming afterward. I’m an outdoor person.” Her adventurous spirit is mirrored in her entrepreneurial approach: measured, persistent, and ambitious.
Sebudisi encourages other young black women to pursue their dreams regardless of resources. “Money, or a lack thereof, should not impede your dream. The common thread among successful entrepreneurs is a dream, the ability to work on it every day until it materialises.”
Her advice extends beyond financial matters to personal growth. “We need to work on ourselves internally. Everything we need to succeed is within us. No system or legislation will give us what we deserve unless we stand up and get it for ourselves.”
The next five years for She-Eco will focus on expansion, with production centers in Gauteng, warehouses in Limpopo, and a presence in local retail. Beyond South Africa, Sebudisi envisions scaling into SADC countries and across the continent.
Her journey, as she describes, has been a series of peaks and valleys. “I would title my autobiography The View from the Valley. The lessons learned in the valleys shape the entrepreneur you become. I’m grateful for those moments because they prepare you for the top.”
