Tšehla Kata, also known as “Ralitoti” is a 24-year-old male entrepreneur whose dream has always been environmental sustainability. He is very intrigued by a healthy and clean environment and he has decided to turn his passion into profit. He started his waste management business in March 2021, as a response to the prevailing littering that Basotho possesses. It also came as a way of surviving mechanism in the trying times of covid-19 whereby many people globally struggled with making ends meet. He and his partner identified a gap in the market and innovatively created plastic bricks.
We caught with him in an interview in order to shine a light on his initiatives:
What have you achieved so far?
Employing 8 people so far has been one of the greatest achievements this year as it reduces the high rate of youth unemployment which is at 32.8% as of April 2021. My business has gone from collecting solid waste (plastic waste) to expanding to liquid waste (used oil) and hazardous waste (mining and construction waste).
What were the challenges that you faced from the beginning up until now?
Firstly, I have no car or truck to transport all of my raw resources required for concrete-plastic bricks. Secondly, I didn’t really know the right proportions of plastic and sand to be used in the beginning. But now, I have learned the appropriate ratio of plastic to sand.
What partnerships have you made so far?
I have partnered with a businessman who is in sewage suction as well as used oil disposal services
Have there been any challenges regarding your partnerships?
At first, it was about not being a prioritized client from other businesses, therefore, I would run out of stock, but now, that has changed.
How would encourage anyone who wishes to venture into the environmental sustainability business?
Waste is not necessarily unusable, it can be re-used. Everyone can take part in this sort of business because I have realized that even trash can feed you. One just needs to be innovative and resilient and all shall be okay.
How would encourage anyone who wishes to venture into the environmental sustainability business?
Waste is not necessarily unusable, it can be re-used. Everyone can take part in this sort of business because I have realized that even trash can feed you. One just needs to be innovative and resilient and all shall be okay.
