new generation of township-based businesses is transforming local economies through eco-conscious innovative practices and resourceful thinking.
Written by Litha Shongwe
Photos by Motlabana Monnakgotla
The 2025 Rand Show Expo, held in Nasrec near Soweto, one of Johannesburg’s biggest townships, embraced the theme “Our Power, Our Planet” in celebration of Earth Day, highlighting Johannesburg’s townships as hubs of sustainability and innovation. Known for its family-friendly atmosphere and cultural significance, the event took on added depth this year by showcasing township-based entrepreneurs who are redefining the green economy through locally rooted, sustainable solutions. Through workshops, exhibitions, and conversations, the activation emphasized community empowerment and environmental awareness, underscoring the growing role of grassroots innovation in the global sustainability movement.
At this year’s Rand Show, Lesego Seloane, co-founder of the Johannesburg-based youth-led organisation Ronewa Creations, launched the Greenfields Farmers Market — a platform that combines eco-conscious businesses with township culture to promote sustainable living. The initiative, rooted in art, education, and community engagement, aims to highlight youth-led green innovation in a setting that is both accessible and culturally relevant. “
Young people don’t want back-to-back seminars with no life,” Seloane told KBNN. “That’s why we mix entertainment, amapiano beats, and eco-stalls. It’s a festival where fun and sustainability coexist.”
Township-based entrepreneurs showcased how sustainability is being reshaped from the ground up. Businesses like Tay’s Cleaning & Hygiene and Light Candles SA reflect a growing movement that blends environmental awareness with wellness and tradition.
Thando Ngidi, founder of Tay’s Cleaning & Hygiene in Orlando East, Soweto, has grown her business from a party clean-up service into a lifestyle brand focused on health, dignity, and eco-friendly cleaning. Having the idea of cleaning at the forefront of her business has allowed the conversation of sustainability to be taken more seriously, especially in townships.
“We’ve always reused. We’ve always made do,” Ngidi says, whose work earned her recognition as a Top 30 finalist in the South African Micro Business Awards.. “Now we’re showing the world what Kasi sustainability looks like when it’s taken seriously.”
Makatu Tshivhula, founder of The Light Candles SA, has taken a more holistic approach at looking at his business. He has created an eco-conscious candle designed to support spiritual wellness and mindfulness.
“My business is about walking people through their spiritual journeys,” he says. His products are now stocked at SPAR (Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed company) outlets in Pineslopes and Diepkloof — a milestone for a brand that began in Soweto.
What unites these stories is a powerful truth: township communities aren’t waiting to be included in the green economy — they are actively shaping it.
“Black people are green too,” says Seloane. “Go into any kasi kitchen and you’ll see how we reuse jars and containers. It’s already in us. We’re just giving it a platform.”
With grassroots innovation, cultural pride, and a commitment to sustainability, these entrepreneurs are not only transforming local economies — they’re redefining what environmental leadership looks like, from the ground up.
