PICS: Fireman makes black gold out of trash!

FIREMAN Given Ngwamba (38) from Nkomazi in Mpumalanga is an innovative man who turns trash into treasure.

He never imagined going into the briquettes business while he was still a pupil at DD Mabuza Comprehensive School in 2004.

"It came through struggles that I thought of making charcoal briquettes from waste material. I weighed all options and realised there was only one way," said Given.

Given studied sound engineering at Sound of Sound Institute and volunteered on Radio Today in Rosebank as a technical operator but realised that the gold was no longer available in Joburg.

He then went back home in 2010.

Back home, Given tried construction, but it was only for two years because in 2013 he volunteered on Nkomazi FM.

In 2016, Given opened his own online radio called WhatsUp Radio. He said the only challenge was funds because it needed data to be followed, and people were struggling to buy data for radio.

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"One day in 2019, there was a party in my yard and from looking at a bag of charcoal, came an idea that I can order charcoals and repack them in a big sack and resell them. I then did research on how to make charcoal. From my study, I discovered that from waste material, agricultural waste, and biomass waste I can make charcoal," Given stated.

He started experimenting behind his garage, but he didn't have enough space.

"I wanted something that would not harm the environment, something ozone-friendly. Waste material was the answer. I carbonised the waste material to extract carbon then boom, a quality product came out of it.

"I was using a wheelbarrow to collect waste material from the neighbourhood. There were a lot of chopped mango trees, so I used them to kick start my vision," Given said.

"The experiments and the findings told me that I can open my own factory. I had to build manual machines to make briquettes. In 2020, Ndzilo Charcoal Briquettes company came into existence. Luckily, I get my waste material supply from the farms around and would like to request the government to give me the alien species trees which suck a lot of water underground, they will be of help for me," said Given.

One of the employees, Zanele Mbungela, said: "I have a very powerful relationship with my boss, Given. You learn every day from him, and I'm thankful for the job he provided. I've made great changes at home because of this job."

Another worker, Sam Khoza, said his boss Given has given him life.

"I was unemployed and now have gained a lot of experience on how to make charcoal," said Sam.

Given is now in talks with SEDA to help him acquire auto machines to make briquettes.

He has so far employed 17 people and delivers his products at Spar Lowveld, as well as PnP in Emalahleni and Baberton.

"I want to supply big cities around the country, Kruger National Park, and communities. I'm sure they will buy into this product for the fact that it is eco-friendly and easy to use. Deforesting will be a thing of the past," said Given.