An innovative new bike was designed and built for a Walmer Township man who makes a living from selling waste. Khululekile “Wilson” Moko will soon swap his cumbersome make-shift cart for a uniquely designed, functional waste-bike which was built from waste material donated by Isuzu Motors South Africa.
The waste-bike was designed and built by Kevin Kimwelle, social entrepreneur, innovator and architect. Kimwelle’s social enterprise, Indalo World, was incubated by Propella Business Incubator and has he made a name for himself by turning waste into functional buildings. The structures Kimwelle puts up are then utilised to the benefit of underprivileged communities of Nelson Mandela Bay.
Similarly, Moko, who will benefit from the waste-bike, takes seemingly worthless waste items and trades the recyclable material for food at a local Re-Trade Project in Walmer.
Moko said: “Re-trading is the only thing that puts food in my mouth. It ensures that I don’t sleep with an empty stomach. This is my way of living: going to the store and trading for food or hiring my cart to the community when they need help.”
The Re-Trade Project is a community-based recycling and social empowerment initiative, providing the community with an opportunity to be environmentally responsible while gaining access to food. As an only source of income, waste provides a livelihood for Moko, who lost his job of 17 years and lives in a shack with his wife.
Thanks to the creative design talents of Kimwelle, Moko’s new waste-bike will be much more efficient and safer compared to his current cart, which he pulls daily along the busy roads of Nelson Mandela Bay.