Eben de Jongh - Sonke

Ebenezer de Jongh, an industrial engineer working in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry noticed the price repercussions on lower-income households and was determined to close the gap. In 2020, he founded Sonke Automated Refill Stations, commonly known as Sonke, a social innovation that enables shoppers to refill on their groceries using their own packaging, substantially reducing costs.

Soon, the business established a second site in Diepsloot after seeing the impact being made to the community. Their business model was ready to introduce refill stations inside other retail stores, and this is where the SAB Foundation Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards became pivotal in accelerating growth.

Watch Eben's story here