TSEPHO PORTABLE POWER STATIONS – A SUSTAINABLE AND RELIABLE LIGHTING SOURCE FOR CAPE INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS

By Lesego Ranchu

• Vrygrond youth-led enterprise, Mosebe Enterprise (ME), pioneers portable power solutions with their flagship power station “Tsepho – The Power of Hope,” addressing safety and electrification challenges in informal settlements.

• Vincent Mosebe (Founder, CEO), Leandro Antonio (Marketing Director), and Donovan Pedzai (Chief Operations Officer) leverage their personal funds to scale production and conduct on-the-ground research, aiming to expand production capacity and reach new communities.
• ME’s product range includes various versions of the Tsepho power station, catering to different needs such as extended power for campers and caravans, as well as solutions for communities facing challenges like Malaria. With prices starting from R1,500 and a warranty of up to a year, ME aims to promote sustainable, affordable, and reliable power solutions while fostering collaborations for future social impact and export.

Cape Town, 13 March 2024 – A Vrygrond youth-led enterprise, Mosebe Enterprise (ME), is switching on lights, plugs and lives through their portable power station solution. Their flagship power station, “Tsepho – The Power of Hope,” is an innovative 10Ah solar energy charge solution that targets households in informal settlements. These households would otherwise resort to unsafe power methods such as candles and illegal connections, often leading to settlement fires, as well as being vulnerable to constant and prolonged power outages and cable theft.

Fuelled by a desire to make an impactful change, three young entrepreneurs – Vincent Mosebe (Founder, CEO), Leandro Antonio (Marketing Director) and Donovan Pedzai (Chief Operations Officer) set out to revolutionalise the energy sector and use recycled materials to create the power stations for underserved and rural communities in the Western Cape and beyond.  

The trio are exhibiting alongside other start-ups, SMMEs, investors and policymakers at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress+Africa, a gathering of entrepreneurs and leaders from 43 African countries. Through organisations like the Sozo Foundation, which we fund to implement development entrepreneurial programmes for youth not-in-education-employment-or-training (NEET), the National Development Agency (NDA) extended the invitation to 23 entrepreneurs to afford them a linkage opportunity to showcase their businesses, network and participate as delegates at the Conference. 

“Our power stations address safety and electrification problems experienced by those residing in informal settlements. Currently, statistics report that an average of 10 shacks catch fire per day in South Africa. We have first-hand experience and have lost personal belongings and community lives to shack fires, having grown up in Vrygrond. Tsepho offers a sustainable, affordable, reliable and eco-friendly power solution that has features including multiple USB ports, a powerful lithium-ion battery with solar compatibility and 1 12v LED light bulb. Tsepho is not just a device; it’s a catalyst for change – a beacon of hope that will bring about a brighter sustainable future,” says Vincent Mosebe.

These entrepreneurs have leveraged personal funds to scale production and conduct on-the-ground research and their immediate plans include expanding production capacity, extending reach to new communities and fostering more collaborations for future social impact and export. 

The power stations range also includes a bigger version 2 Tsepho with similar capabilities including an additional feature of a bug-repellent UV light that exterminates insects and bugs. “With this power station, we are targeting campers and the caravan community who need extended power. Our next goal is to extend the products further into African countries that struggle with Malaria cases. Additionally, there are two more ranges with extended power capabilities to power up a single power socket that can power up a fridge or microwave. The largest, version 3, packs up a 20.8Ah battery and a 300W inverter offering increased power capacity. This would be a good tool for students as they can charge laptops and keep the WIFI going during outages, promoting a consistent learning experience. 

“The starter pack retails from R1 500 without the solar panel, we also offer a warranty of up to a year for technical faults,” concludes Mosebe.