Youth innovators wanted for plastic waste project in Capricorn District
GNBI is recruiting 50 young innovators to transform plastic waste into circular enterprises in Polokwane, Blouberg, Lepelle-Nkumpi and Molemole.
POLOKWANE – The Great North Business Incubator (GNBI) NPC, a non-profit organisation championing green revolution initiatives and green job creation across the country, has officially hosted the landmark stakeholder project launch of the Youth Plastic Innovation Pitch Event Project at the UNISA Regional Campus.
It is funded by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Pretoria through its Climate Fund Initiatives. This flagship intervention establishes Capricorn District Municipality, encompassing Polokwane, Blouberg, Lepelle-Nkumpi, and Molemole local municipalities, as the prime target launch area to transform plastic solid waste challenges into bankable circular enterprises.
Call for applications
GNBI has issued an urgent call for applications targeted at dynamic youth innovators, student researchers and grassroots green entrepreneurs across TVET colleges, universities, and local communities throughout the Capricorn District.
The initiative seeks to recruit 50 high-impact youth innovators, with a strict mandate that at least 60 percent of recruited innovators must be young women addressing the disproportionate rate of female youth unemployment in rural and township ecosystems.
What selected innovators will receive
Selected innovators will benefit from:
- Intensive two-day technical polymer training, melt-flow index validation, and eco-brick strength testing in partnership with the University of Limpopo and TVET labs
- Comprehensive incubation and acceleration covering unit economics, Business Model Canvas refinement, compliance, and investment readiness
- Direct pitching opportunities before Development Finance Institutions, impact investors, and commercial banking partners, unlocking pathways to global climate finance and grant capital
- Commercial matchmaking with mining houses, commercial recyclers, and corporate ESG supply chains to secure binding procurement off-take agreements
Strong support from public and private sectors
The project launch was well attended by a formidable ecosystem of public and private sector leaders, showing robust institutional alignment for the Capricorn District’s Just Transition.
Attendees included:
- Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
- National Youth Development Agency
- Development finance and banking institutions such as SEDA, the Industrial Development Corporation and commercial banks
- Academic and research institutions including UNISA, the University of Limpopo, Tshwane University of Technology, Capricorn TVET College and other higher education institutions
- Industry, waste sector and community leaders, including commercial waste management companies, private buy-back centres, local polymer recyclers, mining sector off-takers, traditional authorities, student representative councils, informal waste pickers, and academic researchers
CEO: ‘A unique incubation philosophy’
Speaking at the launch, Dr Joseph Makuvaza, CEO of GNBI NPC, emphasised the organisation’s unique incubation philosophy.
Moving away from standard classroom-only lectures, GNBI deploys a proprietary Green Economy Systems Design Thinking and Human-Centred Co-Creation incubation model that maps out the entire localised plastic value chain.
“By placing informal waste collectors, young female entrepreneurs, municipal managers, and industrial off-takers into collaborative co-design rooms, GNBI ensures solutions restore human dignity, eliminate illegal dumping, and build commercial resilience. GNBI brings a proven multi-provincial track record of launching and sustaining dozens of green SMMEs across South Africa, including accelerating 35 youth startups to investment readiness under the US Embassy IGNITE Bootcamp,” he said.
Call to municipalities
GNBI appeals to Polokwane, Blouberg, Lepelle-Nkumpi, and Molemole to open their doors, integrate youth circular ventures into local Integrated Development Plans, support waste buy-back centres, and enact supportive green procurement policies.
By converting plastic pollution and illegal burning into wealth, this initiative directly advances Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty eradication, advancing 60% plus young women economic empowerment, decent green jobs, technical skills transfer, sustainable municipal infrastructure, responsible consumption, climate mitigation and high-impact international partnerships.
Community recruitment roadmap
| Date | Location | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| September 9 | Lebowakgomo Community Hall | 35+ youth, women micro-collectors and household upcyclers |
| September 10 | Senwabarwana Center | Rural township waste pickers, eco-brick networks and youth innovators |
| September 11 | Polokwane Civic Center and Mogwadi | Agri-plastic recovery and student tech innovators from UNISA, UL, TUT and TVET colleges |
Technical bootcamp
The technical polymer bootcamp for the top 15 to 20 shortlisted innovators, covering polymer prototyping, unit economics and pitch readiness, will be held at the Regional Innovation Center on September 22 to 23.
How to register
Youth innovators, researchers, and community cooperatives can register:
- At the national head office at 242 Enkeldoorn Street, Montana, Pretoria, 0159
- At NYDA offices in Polokwane
- At local municipality offices
- Via community ward councillors or traditional authorities
- At UNISA Polokwane offices
- Online at www.gnbi.org.za
- Email applications to info@gnbi.org.za
- Telephone or WhatsApp inquiries on +27 12 023 1015 or +27 73 481 4869
