THE trio of young men gazed at the mountain of discarded tyres - an eyesore and an environmental hazard to most people, but to them it was an opportunity to flex their entrepreneurial muscle.
Mzokhona Maxase (now 27), Tshepo Sithole (28) and Fortune Hadebe (27) were students at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in Pretoria, but they were unable to attend classes due to protests at the university. So, they went for a walk and paused outside Carbon Klean, a tyre recycling facility in Pretoria West.
"We went inside and the foreman showed us how they recycled tyres," Mzokhona recalls. "He told us their biggest challenge was what to do with the waste in the form of carbon char, the residual solid that remains after oil and steel has been removed from recycled tyres. And even though we weren't science students, we'd already decided we wanted to play in the green economy space."
The young men asked for a sample of the carbon char so they could study it and a year later, their eco-friendly business, Cubic 38, was born.
The company's name is derived from an equation for compressed natural gas, a cleaner alternative to diesel and petrol, and it uses the char as the main ingredient in shoe polish and tyre polish.
"Tyres aren't waste, they're a resource - if you know how to use them properly," Mzokhona explains.
When he moved to Gauteng from Hluhluwe in rural KwaZulu-Natal, Mzokhona was shocked at the amount of waste he encountered.
"Valuable materials which could be upcycled into income-generating raw materials were labelled as waste materials. It opened my eyes to the reality, and I told myself I want to be involved in the growing market of the green space." He explains that carbon char, also
This story is from the 2 February 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the 2 February 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE MICHAEL'S ANGELS
The king of pop's kids are a close-knit trio who guard their privacy fiercely
BARBIES ON THE GO!
Sending their dolls 'travelling' around the country started as way to escape everyday life during the pandemic and four years later they're still going strong
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
These musician decided to pack up their lives and trek across the country - with three kids in tow!
TALES FROM THE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR
After 40 years in Tinseltown, filmmaker Ed Zwick is spilling the beans about the stars with the biggest egos in his tell-all memoir - and he doesn't regret a thing
India's national election
SOUTH Africa isn't the only country holding an election this year - America and India, among others, are also heading to the polls. Most countries hold elections every five years, and it typically takes place one day before the votes are counted.
IS YOUR BRA HARMING YOUR HEALTH?
Wearing the wrong bra size can cause more than discomfort - a poor fit can lead to bigger problems
MY STORY IS ONE OF HOPE
She was born with a rare condition that affects her muscles but it hasn't stopped Kerry from getting a degree or writing a book
DEATH FROM ABOVE
Drones, like the one used to kill seven aid workers in Gaza, are becoming common in battlefields
FINALLY I'M FREE
IT STARTED innocently enough, with a Bible study group, scripture readings and prayers in the suburbs of Centu rion.
CONJOINED IN HOLY MATRIMONY
Abby and Brittany have again sparked public interest after Abby's 2021 wedding recently made headlines
