Manufacturing Indaba 2025 drives innovation and partnerships in Africa

SANDTON Convention Centre was abuzz this week as industry leaders, government officials, and key decision-makers gathered for the annual Manufacturing Indaba 2025, a vital platform for showcasing products, technologies, and solutions within the manufacturing ecosystem.

- ANITA NKONKI

This two-day expo is not only a marketplace of ideas but also a meeting point for professionals aiming to expand their networks and grasp emerging market trends.

The Saturday Star attended this gathering, speaking with several business owners who shared their personal journeys and the motivations behind their innovative enterprises.

Albertina Maseko, the founder of Mailaka Textiles, is on a mission to empower young girls through the production of reusable sanitary towels.

Maseko’s entrepreneurial drive stemmed from her experiences as an educator over nearly two decades. She says she has witnessed the hurdles many girl learners face due to the lack of affordable menstrual hygiene products.

“We are manufacturing reusable pads, which have a lifespan of three to five years.

“So what led me to start this company is that I have been a teacher for almost 20 years, so I know that a girl bunks classes because they do not have pads. And at home they have to choose between buying pads and buying bread.