When 
Thandi Mase was retrenched at the age of 50 with only one month’s salary, she faced an uncertain future. Fourteen years later, the 64-year-old entrepreneur is the owner of Sebenzile Demolition, a growing demolition and salvage business that employs 200 people.
Mase was managing a new debt-collection branch in Johannesburg when the company retrenched employees in 2012.
“There were no benefits when I was retrenched because it was a new branch. I left with only my salary for that month,” she recalls.
Finding another job at her age seemed unlikely, and so she decided to create her own opportunity.
“I was forced to start something, and I needed to start very quickly.”
Although Mase had previously earned an income selling amagwinya (fat cakes), vegetables and other goods, she wanted to build a sustainable business.
Her brother had transferred his company, Sebenzile Building Construction, to her before returning to the Eastern Cape. She first focused on construction, but the high cost of building materials made it difficult for the business to expand.
Her breakthrough came after meeting a man who had demolition experience.
“Demolition was completely new to me. After he explained the work, I understood the concept within minutes.”
The next day, Mase changed the business name to Sebenzile Demolition.
Her first contract was to demolish a house in Benoni. She arrived without proper tools but with determination. She hired three workers and joined them on site. The team completed the project within three days.
The project also introduced her to the value of salvaging reusable building materials. A salvage-yard owner offered her R35 000 for the reusable material. Since then, she has been operating two salvage yards, which help make demolition projects more profitable.
Mase said she has never received bank financing. Apart from the SAB Foundation COVID-19 relief funding, she has grown the business by using income from completed projects and careful financial planning.
Over the years, she has managed complex demolition projects and developed expertise in demolition planning and controlled rock breaking. Today, Sebenzile Demolition provides services to developers, businesses and private clients.
“I enjoy the challenges. I always say that I am a winner. Every project teaches me something.”
For Mase, success has come from perseverance, continuous learning and a willingness to embrace opportunities in an industry that was once unfamiliar to her.
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