Tembisa entrepreneur creates treasure form trash

A number of Tembisa residents find themselves submerged in poverty due to being complacent with their unemployment.

They feel helpless in the face of hunger resulting in many children succumbing to destitution because government parastatals have unreasonable protocols that prevent many children from receiving state grants.

Getting a skill as a parent could save a child or two and help create better citizens by providing the required education to create a conducive environment for the black child to be nurtured.

Sbusiso “Breakha” Sibeko is an entrepreneur looking to the future who wants to build a furniture business empire that will sustain his children even after he is long gone.

Breakha is recycling oil drums to create attractive furniture that is used both for domestic and event purposes.

“I used to work for a courier company for a long time and at some point I decided to start my own business.

I thought of different ideas and searched online. I came across the innovation of creating furniture out of oil drums. I had tried fashion design before,” said Breakha.

When his mind was set on starting his own business, he started buying tools that he was going to use for it.

“The problem at first was that people couldn’t get my concepts and my vision. My family and friends could not let me leave my job but I went on and took the plunge. Today my business is doing well and gaining more customers every day. I don’t regret my decision of becoming self-employed and venturing into entrepreneurship.”

He said now his furniture adorns restaurants, cafés and social events.

Breakha wants to see his craft distributed by major furniture stores and also supply corporate businesses for their reception spaces.

“I hope my work will be recognised as modern innovation in the sector of waste recycling for turning trash into treasure.

The name of his business is Trash 2 Treasure and it continues to set an example for young people. Every person is born with a talent which they need to use in fighting poverty and refrain from cringing from their circumstances,” said Breakha.

He said young people must find their talent and create an enterprise from it to earn a living.

“After matric I could not further my studies due to financial problems. All my craft is self-taught.”