Hailing from Welkom in the Free State, Lebogang Thamsanqa Saila is determined to achieve his dream of owning a gin brand and establishing his name alongside other alcohol brand owners. Lebogang is the proud owner of Sive, a gin inspired by South African culture.
Sive is a culture-inspired gin specifically crafted to educate South Africans about the cultural heritage that many have lost over the years. The gin celebrates the beauty of South Africa as the Rainbow Nation.
The creation of Sive was deeply influenced by Lebogang’s late wife, Sivenathi Gcuwa, whose love for her Xhosa culture ignited Lebogang’s curiosity to learn about the various cultures present in South Africa. The gin is named after his late wife.
“Most of us grew up without knowledge of our cultural backgrounds—our clan names, the dos and don’ts, and more. The concept for Sive was born in 2023, but we plan to launch the long-awaited product in 2025,” Lebogang emphasized.
The inspiration behind the gin stems from the desire to educate people about their culture in a fun and engaging way—through something they love: drinking alcohol. What sets Sive apart is its unique ability to change color, which reflects the amount of tonic added to the gin, allowing drinkers to customize their experience, whether they prefer it strong or perfectly mixed.
Despite facing numerous challenges while developing his brand, Lebogang has breathed life into Sive, working alongside a dedicated team.
“My late wife was the inspiration behind the name on the bottle (Sive), which means ‘hear us.’ We want the masses to hear us as we share a South African story,” Lebogang stated.
The gin will be available in selected stores and can also be purchased online through an app, allowing customers to order personalized Sive Gins.
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