Making clocks out of recycled materials
The clocks are mostly bio-degradable and are made from recycled materials.
In this current world of unemployment, many people, young and old, start businesses in an effort to make a living.
As the old saying goes, ‘hard work pays off’ and if you work hard enough, market yourself well and seize every opportunity that comes your way, you may find yourself providing your services (or in this case product) to the district municipal mayor.
Such was the case for two men from Gamalakhe. Sandile Mthembu and Muzi Vilakazi who reside in Qinabout, make wall clocks that are so appealing that Ugu District mayor Sizwe Ngcobo and former regional ANC secretary Mzwandile Mkhwanazi had to buy them on the spot.
Alongside Sandile and Muzi are Nandipha Mvezi and Bandile Shlophe who are also involved in the day-to-day running of the business. “I was at the Gamalakhe Lifestyle Centre when I saw Mzwandile Mkhwanazi. I approached him and I told him about the work that we do. He saw it, he liked it and placed an order which he paid for on the spot. I made two clocks, a yellow and green one for him to choose from, and after a few weeks, we took them to his house but he wasn’t there,” said Sandile.
“On our way out, we bumped into his son who then video called him and showed him our clocks. He chose the yellow one,” he added. The pair then went to an ANC meeting in the area, where they bumped into the mayor who purchased the green clock.
“It was quite exciting that our work impressed them so much that they wanted them on the spot. It was really motivating,” said Sandile.
The clocks are mostly bio-degradable and are made from recycled materials.
“We re-use old masonite boards, old milk cardboard boxes and old tin cans which are the biggest component. We normally get our milk cardboard boxes from Boxer in Gamalakhe, so we are very grateful to them,” said Sandile. According to Muzi, the goal is to eventually go fully green in their manufacturing process, by incorporating solar power in the clocks.
“We are planning on releasing a new range where we use pallets. It’s going to be 100% green. We hope investors and stakeholders will see our work and want to invest and grow this business because we really care about the environment.”
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