In 2017, Eunice Zodwa Mabena made a brave decision: she quit her job to follow her passion full-time. She dreamed of a better life for her children and saw an opportunity to build something meaningful not just for herself, but for her entire community.
Mabena Clothing Manufacturing Services started small, with limited tools and resources. Eunice and her team faced big challenges like not having enough equipment, dealing with slow cash flow, and finding people who truly shared her vision. But she didn’t give up. Instead, she focused on what she had: a passion for sewing, a belief in local production, and a strong work ethic. Every rand earned was reinvested into the business – buying better machines, hiring more staff, and expanding services.
Today, Mabena Clothing has created 19 jobs by producing school uniforms, sports kits, sublimation-printed t-shirts, banners, and branded merchandise. The business recently took a huge step forward and invested R450 000 in a sublimation printing machine and hired five new employees. Eunice also received a grant from the SAB Foundation to boost sewing production, another proud moment for her.
“It felt like all the hard work was finally paying off,” she says.
But Eunice’s biggest success isn’t just the growth of the business; it’s the lives she’s changed along the way. Mabena Clothing has become a place of learning and purpose, especially for women and young people. Her shop doesn’t just employ, it empowers. “When I see someone gain confidence because of the skills they’ve learned here, I know we’re doing something right.”
Like any business owner, Eunice has faced hard decisions. Letting go of team members who didn’t align with the company’s values was painful, but necessary for growth. “These were people I cared about,” she says. “But I had to make choices that were best for the business and the rest of the team.”
She’s also had to juggle work and family, showing up for her business while raising her children and navigating personal struggles. Still, she keeps showing up with strength because she is determined to build a legacy.
In the next few years, Eunice dreams of taking Mabena Clothing nationwide, expanding her e-commerce store, opening more retail locations, and becoming one of South Africa’s top names in school uniforms and branded apparel.
She commends others who also started small: “Keep learning, keep growing, and always believe that what you’re building matters.”
Because in Eunice’s hands, even a single thread can stitch together a truly powerful dream.
*Mabena Clothing Manufacturing Services is a participant business on the SAB Foundation’s Tholoana Enterprise Programme.
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About the Author
Terrena Rathanlall is the SME Media Portfolio Manager at Fetola.
