By: Noko Mashilo
Former school teacher Tebeni Mathonsi Maseko is honouring girls’ menstrual cycles by promoting better health through her reusable pads. Her initiative, Keep a Girl Child at School, operates under her company, Malaika Textile. Maseko told Vutivi News that, having taught for over two decades, she noticed that some girls would skip classes or be absent from school due to a lack of basic menstrual health products. “In reality, these girls can lose up to four days of school each month, resulting in a total of 60 days— or two months — by the end of the year,” Maseko explained.
This realisation led her to resign from teaching and focus on helping young girls. “My idea for cloth pads came from our ancestors, who used cloth for this purpose. They would cut a mealie bag into a pad, wash it after use, and reuse it,” Maseko said. Today, Maseko’s reusable pads, which last for five years, reflect this tradition. “They come in a pack of five with a manual on how to use them. The pack costs R200, but a girl can save up to R3000 over five years by not having to buy disposable pads,” Maseko noted.
Her company was registered in 2019 and began trading in 2020. To date, she has distributed her pads across seven provinces in South Africa, reaching 50,000 girls in 120 schools. “Our pads are made of five layers, including antimicrobial layers for hygiene, a strong absorption layer for heavy flow, and a breathable layer. “These pads also reduce landfill waste by 3.6 kg per girl over five years. The good thing is that the underlayer doesn’t leak, preserving the girls’ dignity,” Maseko added.
Regarding her compliance policy, Maseko sought SABS testing for her pads. “Our pads had to meet nine standards, including absorption, stretch, and lifespan. The initial test, which cost R20,000, revealed that we didn’t meet two standards. “After making corrections, we passed the test on our second attempt. Following this, SABS visited our factory in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, to verify our compliance, and we were approved. “SABS officials sometimes visit unannounced to pick products for testing, but I’m proud that we have received the SABS compliance certificate,” Maseko shared.
Born on Barvale Farm outside Nelspruit, Maseko has received ongoing support from Old Mutual. “They have assisted us with startup funds, material purchases, staff training and mentoring,” said the recipient of the Small and Medium Partnership of the Year award in Africa.
Regarding free pad distribution, Maseko focuses on disadvantaged girls, while those who can afford R200 can purchase them. “I work closely with corporates who identify disadvantaged schools, pay for the pads, and distribute them directly to the girls. I encourage other companies to join Old Mutual Wildheart Foundation, Old Mutual Insure, Document Wearhouse and Trac in supporting and keeping girls in school as part of their social responsibility,” Maseko concluded.
