Faith, family and foam

When life handed us a pandemic, some people baked banana bread and others binge-watched television. But 64-year-old Martha April picked up two bread pans - not to make loaves, but to make soap.And not just any soap.Martha’s Boerseep has become a household name, scrubbing socks, sneakers, collars and kitchens.“It was during Covid when things were tough,” she recalls. “I went to the Lord and asked for something to do. And He gave me soap!” she adds with a smile.From humble beginnings in March 2021, Martha’s Boerseep quickly moved from her kitchen counter to the shelves of Spar stores across Windhoek. Then OK Foods, Woermann Brock and Metro joined the clean revolution. Today, her soaps are found from Keetmanshoop to Otjiwarongo, from Karasburg to Karibib and Rehoboth, and even in the occasional school or soup kitchen, where she generously donates up to 100 bars at a time.Simple, yet powerfulHer recipe is deceptively simple: rendered fat, lye, faith, and a lot of elbow grease.But don’t be fooled – it took trial, error and a few cuts before the family perfected the product.Today, the business remains a family affair. Her sons take turns helping between studies and jobs, her husband assists after work, and even a family “child” lends a hand. Together, they produce many blocks of soap each day, and with new orders pouring in, that number may soon double.However, April insists that her secret ingredient is not in the fat or the formula – it’s faith. “From the start, the Lord said to me: I am with you. That is what gave me the courage to walk into shops and ask managers to stock my soap.”Still, running a business is no bed of roses – or bubbles. She lists challenges with the humour that only a seasoned Namibian entrepreneur can muster: “We need bigger pots, mixers, shelves. Gas is eating us alive. Fat is another problem, both storing it and, well, carrying it.”Dreaming bigHer dream? To one day employ a proper team of staff, launch new products like Boerseep powder, and most importantly, keep giving away soap to those who need it most.For now, she is grateful. Martha’s Boerseep has earned a reputation for keeping white things brilliantly white, leaving no stains behind, whether it’s school socks, uniforms or sneakers.And that is why, the next time you see Martha’s Boerseep in the store, you might smile, pick up a bar, and think of a grandmother with humour, hustle and holy determination, proving that sometimes the best way to face life’s mess is simply to wash it away.

Faith, family and foam

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Republikein 2025-08-29

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Faith, family and foam

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Republikein 2025-08-29

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