Communities face the harsh realities of unemployment, teen pregnancy, substance abuse and others. Young people say it’s because they have few opportunities open to them.
Lwahluma Zokufa is a graduate in Versatile Broadcasting from Walter Sisulu University. His experience includes running small businesses. One of these is Echo Plastic Processors, a recycling company which Zokufa manages while he is studying. Yes, he can and does work and study all at the same time. It’s hard, but you can juggle commitments if you are passionate and not afraid of hard work. He has various experiences in the recycling sector through his dealings with different companies focusing on the recovery of recyclable waste through buy back centres. He is currently completing his National Diploma in Journalism at Walter Sisulu University.
Zokufa, is originally from Somerset East, he believes that the biggest concern among the youth of today is education. The biggest struggle in Zokufa’s community, especially for young ambitious people, is accessing information. “I believe the education system needs to change in South Africa,” Zokufa said. “There’s a lack of self-education. It needs to start at classroom level, to teach young people that one needs more than just formal education to make a success of their lives. In my community, that would make a difference.” Zokufa believes that creating opportunities is also about working hard and putting your best foot forward in everything you do. “It’s about investing your time now to get returns in the future.” The WSU graduate, is very passionate about education and youth development. As a result, he is a co-founder of an organization called Blue Crane Youth Development which helps student’s access higher education. He is the marketing and communication director of the organization.
After passing matric in Port Elizabeth Zokufa decided to take a gap year to decide on what he wants to study and then two years later he started a company called Lihlumile Developments Consultants in 2009 in Pietermaritzburg which is mainly focused on supplying stationary and he later became a business consultant. In 2010, this young man moved to East London and continued to supply his stationary. Zokufa benefited a lot from during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Later in 2014, Zokufa met Leon Van der Waat who is a businessman that owns a company called Cannibal Glass Recycling. The business owner introduced him to recycling and waste management and he taught him everything he knows about the business. Zokufa learnt so much more from this businessman as a result, he started his second company with Mawanda Blouw and Khayalethu Pikolo his friends, the company is called Green Waste Solutions. “Working with friends has its challenges as well as it has its benefits, my friends and I had a good working relationship and we still do” he said.
Zokufa has many businesses, one would find it hard to believe that he is a student. In 2018, he moved on to start another company called Echo Plastic Processors which deals with processing the waste collected such as glass, paper, plastic, cardboard and can. Echo Plastic Processors is a 100% black owned recycling company that was established by him and Khayalethu Pikolo two previously disadvantaged black men that identified an opportunity in the waste management and recycling industry. The company produces food packaging, shopping bags, refuse bags, clear plastic bags, wood bags, PET bottles and more.
The demand for recycled products continues to grow and new markets are developing that allow the efficient segregation and reprocessing of high purity resins. Improved quality resins, greater environmental awareness and higher prices for virgin resins contributing to growth. Manufactures of goods are dramatically increasing their use of recycled inputs in their production processes. In line with the National Waste Management Strategy, Echo Plastic Processors seeks to implement measures to strengthen and expand the waste economy so that it can generate and sustain jobs as well as to formalize existing jobs in the waste economy.
The mission of Echo Plastic Processors is to be a model of environmental through programmes that maximize waste reduction, ecological sustainability, promote recycling and production of products from recyclable materials. Their mission is to achieve 100% customer satisfaction by delivery quality products and services at an affordable price. Their forward vision is to strive to become an entity in the packaging industry, capable of demanding unconditional response from the targeted niche. The company is growing and would always like to remain on the growing streak.
2018 was a very busy year for Zokufa. He managed to start two companies. Starting a business seems to be in his blood. The second company he started last year (2018) is the LLK Energy Solutions which deals with supplying fuel, coal, chrome etc. Zokufa also started this company with Khayalethu and Lwando Mqaqa.
Zokufa, takes every opportunity that comes up, he is not afraid to work hard. The definition of a hard worker is him. He is an inspiration as there are not many young black students who have businesses on the side. He is able to give back to the community and still provide jobs for people. Zokufa, makes it work by simply cutting down in social life activities to achieve the bigger goal. I believe we can a lot from him. I know not all of us can run and manage a business but we can find other ways to make money on the side.
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