When Sharon Rapetswa founded the Triple Shine Foundation in Limpopo in 2016, she set out to tackle two challenges that often go unnoticed yet have profound effects on communities: environmental waste and the lack of economic opportunities for disadvantaged women. What began as a small, heartfelt project has since evolved into a powerful social enterprise with national impact.
Inspired by her young triplets, the “triple” in Triple Shine, Sharon envisioned an organisation that could give back to both people and the planet. She partnered with the global Eco Soap Bank initiative, making Triple Shine its South African hub. The mission was clear: rescue surplus soap from factories, recycle it into safe, high-quality bars, and deliver them to those who need them most.
The foundation’s work quickly grew in scope and creativity. Recognising that hygiene education is as important as access to soap, Sharon and her team developed “SoaPlay” colourful, child-friendly soap shapes that make handwashing fun for children while instilling life-saving habits from an early age. These innovations, combined with a deep commitment to community upliftment, have enabled Triple Shine to reach early childhood development centres, schools, senior homes, refugee shelters, and rural villages.
The results speak volumes. Since its inception, the foundation has rescued more than 150 tons of soap from waste, distributed over 800,000 bars, created 28 direct jobs for women, many of whom are survivors of abuse or long-term unemployment, and supported more than 100 women through its distributor network. Programmes such as Thushang Basadi (empowering rural mothers with soap-making, candle-making, and gardening skills), Soap for Girls (providing dignity bags to schoolgirls), and Rural Water Systems (bringing clean water and hygiene infrastructure to villages) have become cornerstones of its impact.
Sharon’s work is not only about delivering soap or creating jobs, but it’s very much about dignity, resilience, and showing that innovation can thrive in rural South Africa. By building a circular economy model that recycles waste into opportunity, she is reshaping the way communities see both entrepreneurship and environmental responsibility.
It is for this vision and tangible impact that Sharon Rapetswa has been named a finalist in the Santam Women of the Future Awards 2025. This recognition celebrates women entrepreneurs whose ventures are making a sustainable difference, and Sharon’s story is a shining example of what is possible when compassion meets creativity.
Now, she needs our voices. Supporting Sharon in these awards is more than a gesture of recognition; it’s a step toward amplifying the reach of the Triple Shine Foundation, enabling more women to earn a living, more children to learn healthy habits, and more communities to gain access to essential hygiene.
You can vote for Sharon HERE, voting ends 31st August 2025.
