Summer is here and it can get dry, especially in areas that are dealing with the drought. Actress, TV producer, businesswoman and mom Sonia Mbele (44) is hoping to tap into that gap.
She's now in the water business and is gearing up to launch Alkamax, her new brand of Alkaline water.
With the current water crisis in Gauteng and Gqeberha and Kwa-Zulu Natal, the decision came easy.
“I saw that there was a gap in the market as far as manufacturing own water is concerned, especially for female manufacturers,” she says.
“There is a need for soap and tissues manufacturers in the country amongst many others. So, I decided to jump right in and occupy space in this completely untapped market, especially as a woman. I am very business-minded and an opportunity to create employment and to have other streams of income is always welcomed,” she adds.
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Before landing her latest role of gangster Zola on the Mzansi Magic show Diep City, Sonia has been applying for work and bidding for shows. But waiting on contracts and unsuccessfully applying, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
“I thought to myself, how can I get multiple streams of income? How can I also inspire my fellow South Africans that suffered the very same strain I suffered? How can we all make money and sustain ourselves and I thought of water,” she says.
“So I thought, we are a consuming society. I’m a big water drinker. I even sleep with a litre of water next to my bed.”
While doing her daily reading Sonia saw an article that inspired her to start her new business venture.
“I bumped into an article on the internet about Alkaline water which was very interesting,” she says.
“People don’t know the difference between tap water and alkaline water and I researched and realized that was something I could invest in,” she says.
“I also wanted to break a record and be the first black female to manufacturer Alkaline water to the masses in South Africa,” she says.
Sonia’s Alkamax water is targeted at everyone.
“Anyone and everyone drinks water. We need it for plants and animals as well,” she says.
“Although South Africa has the best water in the continent. The alkaline water is the purest with a PH of 10+ (no acid) and a TDS of 13-50 which means the water has been refined, healthier, beneficial to the functioning of the whole body system,” she says.
Sonia will be recruiting distributors across the country to create employment for those who suffered due to the pandemic but for now she's selling online.
“Most importantly for me is that we are establishing distribution and collection centers in all nine provinces and people can contact our distribution managers and they can be distributors. We want to create employment and make sure people are healthy at the same time.”
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Sonia made her come back on television after two years, waiting for the right role. The last time she appeared on the small screen was in the production Blessed 2019 while being busy behind the scenes.
In a previous interview with Drum upon her return to TV, Sonia said that acting is her first love.
“Acting will always remain my first love, no matter what I do. I was always going to come back on screen. I just needed a role that made sense for me and is with productions that have been tried and tested, and not be in something new. I’ve missed just the adrenalin of waking up early for morning calls and being on that set and the acting environment, but I just needed the right role for me.”
