Interview With The Winner of Engen The Making Of 2025: Koketso Ramatlho

Interview With The Winner of Engen The Making Of 2025: Koketso Ramatlho. Koketso Ramatlho represents a new wave of South African entrepreneurship defined by purpose, clarity and consistent execution. As the founder of Angela Care and the winner of Engen The Making Of 2025, her rise has been shaped by a simple but powerful starting point: creating natural solutions for her son. That personal mission has since evolved into a skincare brand that reaches customers across the world, earning her both industry recognition and a national platform. In this interview, we profile the woman behind the brand, unpacking the discipline, innovation and strategic decisions that continue to position Angela Care as a standout in the growing natural skincare space. Check it out below!

Angela Care began as a personal mission to help your son’s severe eczema. Can you take us back to that moment and how it transformed into a business idea?

Angela Care really started as a mother and father mission before it ever became a business idea. Our son struggled with severe eczema and highest count of allergy, and as parents, watching him suffer was incredibly difficult. I remember how no amount of prescription could help.

Through our daughter, Angela, who cared so much for her brother, she one day said to us why don’t we use Moringa on his skin as we are using it on her hair. We started researching ingredients, testing gentle formulations, and learning everything we could about skin barriers and inflammation. When the first blend we created actually soothed his skin, it felt like a breakthrough, not just for him, but for us. That personal victory opened our eyes to how many other parents were experiencing the same struggle.

That’s when the mission grew bigger than our household. What started as a desperate search to help my child evolved into a purpose-driven brand. Angela Care became a way to share that relief, that hope, and that confidence with families dealing with eczema and sensitive skin. The business didn’t begin with profit in mind, it was born out of love, science, and the need to create something that genuinely works.

Your daughter Angela inspired the use of Moringa. How did her suggestion shape the direction and identity of your brand?

Her suggestion pushed us to dig deeper into our own heritage and the rich botanicals around us. Once I researched Moringa’s anti-inflammatory and healing properties, it became clear that this wasn’t just another ingredient, it was a powerful symbol of what our brand stands for: solutions rooted in African science, family, and intentional care.

Introducing Moringa helped shape Angela Care’s identity. It grounded our brand in authenticity and reminded me that innovation doesn’t always come from laboratories far away; sometimes it comes from a child’s curiosity and the wisdom in our own traditions. Angela’s influence helped us position the brand as one that values natural healing, family-inspired ideas, and proudly African ingredients.”

Your products now ship to eight countries. What were the key milestones that helped you scale beyond your kitchen experiments?

Just as a point of correction, Angela Care is not shipping to 8 Countries, but does have about 8 International Footprint through representing South Africa on Trade Missions. We are however exporting to Saudi Arabia on a B2C, to Somalia on a B2B, recently to China on a small consignment with the hope of getting bigger consignments and soon to export to a few UAE countries with a letter of intent received.

One of the most important milestones for us actually began long before any international orders, it started with Angela’s vision. One day at a retail shop with Angela, I said to her that one day we will have her products on the retail shelves, which she then said to me the products will be sold in California, which surprised me and planted a seed to us going globally. At first it felt like a dream, but that belief became our manifestation. It set the tone for how boldly we thought about the brand from day one.

The real turning point came when we participated in our first local trade show. We went there simply hoping to introduce our products to more people, but we ended up being scouted to represent South Africa in Turkey. That invitation was the moment everything shifted, it was the bridge that took us from kitchen experiments to global exposure.

In Turkey, we were completely overwhelmed by the response. Buyers, distributors, retailers, wholesalers and visitors from so many different countries gravitated towards our products, asking questions, giving feedback, and showing genuine appreciation for our formulations. It was the first time we saw, with our own eyes, that Angela Care had a place in the global market.

That experience confirmed the demand we had manifested and dreamed about. It became the milestone that pushed us to upgrade our systems, formalise our processes, expand our offices and build a lab to prepare the brand for international exporting. It proved that what started as a family vision could stand proudly on an international stage.

Why was it important for you to focus on African botanicals such as Baobab, Moringa, and Turmeric?

It was important for me to focus on African botanicals like Baobab, Moringa, and Turmeric because they represent who we are, what we stand for, and the healing power we often overlook in our own backyard. When I started this journey, I realised that the solutions for my son’s skin were right here in Africa, in plants our ancestors have trusted for generations.

African botanicals are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes them perfectly suited for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. Choosing them wasn’t just a natural decision; it was a scientific one.

But beyond the benefits, choosing African ingredients was about identity. I wanted Angela Care to be a brand that tells our story, a brand rooted in African wisdom, African science, and African innovation. Using Baobab, Moringa, and Turmeric allowed us to celebrate the continent, create globally competitive products, and prove that African botanicals not only work, but they can stand proudly on shelves anywhere in the world.

For me, it’s more than skincare, it’s a statement of pride, heritage, and the belief that Africa has everything we need to heal, nurture, and innovate.

What motivated you to enter Engen The Making Of, and did you expect to make it as far as you did?

A friend of mine motivated me who was one of the participant last year/first season. He informed me that I should give it a try as he believed I could win it. Watching Season 1, I truly enjoyed it and felt this could be something that I could win. I always knew I am creative but I also wanted to play the game in a way that my fellow competitors could not sense I am a threat. I was very strategic and made sure to make friends with every participant so that when it was time to vote someone off, they overlook me. I tried very hard to be strategic in a way that no one should see me coming. My wish was to make it to the semifinals, trusting myself that I would win should I make it to the semifinals. So did I expect to win?, yes, I had so much Faith I will win.

How did it feel to be announced as the winner of season 2 and walk away with over R250 000 in cash?

Even though I had faith that I would win, nothing can truly prepare you for the moment your name is announced. When they called me as the Season 2 winner and I realised I was walking away with R253 000 in cash, it felt surreal. It was a mix of gratitude, shock, and an overwhelming sense of fulfilment. It truly felt like a full circle moment.

That moment wasn’t just about winning the money, it felt like a confirmation of everything I had prayed for, worked for, and sacrificed. The competition as faithed up as I was, there were times I would feel like I am not doing good enough and  would question myself so much, so that moment I was announced as the winner, It was validation that I actually did well, despite the curve balls I experienced along the way. I felt proud, emotional, and incredibly humbled.

You plan to build the Angela Care Lab. What new opportunities will this create for research, development, and production?

Building the Angela Care Lab will significantly strengthen our R&D and production capabilities. It will allow us to conduct targeted research on African botanicals, accelerate product development, and maintain tighter quality control.

The lab also expands our production capacity, enabling us to meet both local and growing international demand more efficiently. In addition, it creates new employment opportunities for the masses.

Overall, the Angela Care Lab positions us as a credible, scalable, and science-driven African brand ready for long-term global growth.

What was the toughest challenge you faced on Engen The Making Of, and how did you push through it?

One of the toughest challenges I faced on Engen The Making Of was managing the pressure of presenting my vision and products while being constantly evaluated. On top of that, working in groups added another layer of complexity, aligning ideas, communicating effectively, and making decisions under time pressure wasn’t always easy. I pushed through by staying focused on my purpose, actively listening to my teammates, finding common ground even when I felt strongly that some ideas may not work, and leaning on my preparation and belief in myself. That mindset helped me turn pressure into motivation and perform at my best.

You mentioned that the win represents confidence and credibility. How has this changed your outlook as a business owner?

Winning has truly reinforced my confidence in both myself and my business. It’s not just about the recognition, it validates that the vision, hard work, and standards we uphold are credible and competitive. As a business owner, it has broadened my outlook, showing me that with dedication and innovation, we can achieve higher growth, attract more partnerships, and compete on an international level even. I was truly u against amazing Entrepreneurs, so the win truly boosted my confidence.

What business lessons from the show have had the biggest impact on how you run Angela Care today?

The show taught me the importance of strategic focus, disciplined execution, and listening closely to feedback. It reinforced that innovation must be paired with practical business decisions, and that building a credible brand requires both consistency and adaptability. These lessons have shaped how I run Angela Care today ensuring every decision is intentional, scalable, and aligned with our long-term vision

You learned to see setbacks as preparation. Can you share an example of a setback on the show that taught you something valuable?

One significant setback was when our VW idea, that I was confident in didn’t get approval from the mentors. Initially, it felt discouraging, but it forced me to revisit my research, refine the formulation, and better understand what the client truly needed. That experience taught me that setbacks are not failures, they’re opportunities to improve, adapt, and come back stronger.

The competition tested pitching, teamwork, and problem-solving. Which skill did you feel developed the most?

While the competition tested many skills, pitching and problem-solving were the areas where I grew the most. Crafting a clear, compelling pitch taught me how to communicate effectively, while the challenges and unexpected hurdles sharpened my ability to think creatively and find practical solutions under pressure. Together, these skills have strengthened both my leadership and strategic decision-making

Angela Care is rooted in holistic wellness and indigenous knowledge. How do you ensure the brand stays authentic as it grows?

We ensure authenticity by staying true to our roots, using ethically sourced indigenous ingredients, honouring traditional knowledge, and combining it with modern science. As we grow, we maintain rigorous quality standards, invest in research, and engage with the communities and experts who inspire our products. This keeps Angela Care both credible and true to its holistic wellness vision.

Audiences connected deeply with your humility and determination. What personal values guide your approach to entrepreneurship?

Humility, integrity, and perseverance guide everything I do as an entrepreneur. I believe in learning continuously, staying grounded, and putting purpose before profit. These values ensure that every decision I make for Angela Care prioritizes people, our customers, our team, and the communities we work with, while driving sustainable growth.

What is your long-term vision for Angela Care, especially now with new resources, visibility, and momentum behind you?

My long-term vision for Angela Care is to establish it as a globally recognised brand, celebrated for its holistic approach and indigenous-rooted formulations. With the new resources, visibility, and momentum, we aim to scale production, meet both local and international demand, and export our products to multiple countries, showcasing the best of African wellness on the world stage.