For CoE it represents an opportunity to provide environmentally friendly waste management services, while for residents it means venom-free bins with less need for use of plastic, amongst others.
However for Tsakane-based Bafana Magagula, Kamogelo Sekele and Tshepo Mokoena it means business opportunity.
The trio saw the rollout of the waste bins as an opportunity to start a business. They are providing cleaning services to the residents and safeguard the bins until owners collect them when they return from work in the afternoon.
“When the rollout started, we realised there were challenges of theft, and right there we saw an opportunity to start the cleaning service, which in turn addresses the theft issues. We clean and keep them until they are back from work,” said Kamogelo Sekele who is the co-founder of kasi bin wash – as their business is known.
The three entrepreneurs service about 30 bins every week for free and collect the money on a monthly basis.
Sekele said the business has been growing to the point that they have opened another centre in a different section of Tsakane wherein 15 bins per week are serviced so far.
“We want to continue to enlarge our business so we can employ more young people like us in the township. We are also aware of the theft challenge in the suburbs, and we are ready to help,” Sekele added.
Sekele, a Marketing Management graduate from Damelin, is encouraged young people, including graduates to look at local business opportunities to improve their situations.
NB: There are various advantages of using 240L waste bins, which include the following:
- Provides more storage capacity than the smaller refuse bin used previously.
- Compatible with the lifting mechanism of City’s new waste removal trucks, and thus workers do not have to carry bins on their back
- Have a longer lifespan (approximately 8 years), and easy to clean.
- Minimizes tearing of bags by rodents and stray dogs, and infestation of rodents
- Easy to handle with low risk of being exposed to sharp objects
- Does not generate water vapour and is made of pest repellent material.
- No need for continuous acquisition of refuse plastic bags, thus saving money.
- Promotes uniform service standards and cleanliness of the City.
