In a small community in Sasolburg, South Africa, two sisters have found a way to address both environmental and economic challenges by turning waste into something valuable: bricks. Kedibone and Kekeletso Tsiloane, aged 35 and 31, respectively, have become pioneers in sustainable construction, creating solid and durable bricks made from 90% recycled materials, including plastic.
The journey of these two sisters began with a simple yet powerful idea. Inspired by the local waste pickers who tirelessly work to keep their surroundings clean, Kedibone and Kekeletso joined the effort. They began by collecting waste from their neighbours’ homes and bringing it back to their own house, much to the dismay of their mother, who wasn’t too pleased with the garbage accumulating in her yard. Little did she know, this would be the beginning of something much more significant.
The Tsiloane sisters had no initial intentions of entering the construction industry, despite growing up in a family where their father owned a construction company. Their childhood was spent on construction sites during school holidays, an experience they initially resented. “At the time, it seemed like a punishment,” Kedibone recalls. However, their father’s foresight led him to register a construction company for them in 2013, inadvertently setting them on a path they never expected to take.
As they worked on various building projects, they noticed the significant cost of bricks, a realisation that sparked the idea of making their own. However, they didn’t just want to make ordinary bricks; they wanted to create something that could also tackle the growing problem of plastic waste. They started small, collecting plastic waste and experimenting with it to create prototype bricks. By 2017, they had developed a product that exceeded their expectations regarding quality and durability.
When the sisters relocated to Gauteng in 2019, they found a larger market and more abundant sources of recyclable material. The move proved pivotal for their modest business, Ramtsilo Trading. As they began to engage more with corporations and individuals dealing with waste, their business evolved into a vital waste-management solution for the community.
Their bricks, which weigh about 2.5 kg each, are composed of 30% plastic—a significant amount considering it equals around ten water bottles per brick. The impact is profound: every brick produced means less plastic waste in landfills or polluting the environment. Their production capacity, which started at 6,000 bricks per day, has soared to over 50,000 daily.
The Tsiloane sisters’ success didn’t come without challenges. They had to undergo rigorous testing to prove the reliability and safety of their bricks, including fire testing and durability assessments. These efforts earned them credibility and opened doors to supply their eco-friendly bricks to major retailers such as Builders’ Warehouse and Leroy Merlin.
Despite their achievements, Kedibone and Kekeletso remain grounded, acknowledging that growth takes time. While their bricks are available only in Gauteng due to logistical challenges, they are optimistic about future expansion beyond South Africa’s borders.
The sisters’ bricks are competitively priced, ranging from R1.30 to R1.60 (N112.25 to N138.16) each, making them an affordable alternative to traditional cement bricks. They believe that their work is not just a business but a calling, something that has naturally grown from their experiences and backgrounds.
As they continue to innovate and expand, Kedibone and Kekeletso are not just building with bricks—they are building a legacy of sustainability, community engagement, and entrepreneurial spirit in South Africa. Their story shows how ingenuity and determination can turn waste into a foundation for a better future.
