Local entrepreneur creates unique water purification system to help needy

Tikelo Primary School used to suffer the effects of contaminated water, but Kusini Water installed a water plant in March earlier this year that changed their lives.

Kusini Water’s purification method is cheaper and saves power. It uses gravity as the main source of power and not electricity. It is a locally designed solar-powered water purification system that uses an activated carbon filter made from locally sourced macadamia nut shells in combination with locally combined nano-fibres.

Kusini Water is a locally designed solar-powered water purification system that uses an activated carbon filter made from locally sourced macadamia nut shells in combination with locally combined nano-fibres. This purification method is cheaper and saves power, because it doesn’t use electricity, but simply uses gravity as the main source of power.

It helps to purify water from any source and cleanses it of 99.99% of bacteria and viruses. It was in Shayandima, Limpopo, that Kusini Water launched its very first system (nearly two years ago) and its first mobile container launched in October last year, supplying water for the community of Extension 10 in eMalahleni West. To reduce reliance on municipal water, Murendeni Mafumo (founder of Kusini Water) is installing water plants all over the country in rural areas that are underserved.

One of these places is Tikelo Primary School. For the first time in years they have drinkable water, thanks to Mafumo.

“The aim of Kusini Water is to bring about a systemic change in communities currently underserved when it comes to water and sanitation,” Mafumo said.

The Red Bull Amaphiko Academy is a programme designed to grow social entrepreneurs that solves social problems, like Mafumo who has been part of the programme for 18 months. Mafumo is one of 16 entrepreneurs who is currently part of the programme. He found that Kusini Water’s biggest obstacle is financial growth.

“Without proper finances, we can’t afford the necessary human resources,” Mafumo said.

Murendeni Mafumo shows the filter from the purification system that is used to capture contaminated parts of the water of Tikelo Primary School. He explained that usually the filters need to be replaced every two months, but because the water of Tikelo Primary School is so dirty, the filter needs to be replaced every two weeks.

Kusini Water is currently selling bottles of water to boost finances. Their prime focus is on installing water plants specifically in rural areas all over the country, especially in Limpopo. According to Mafumo, it is a government problem that there is no water in Limpopo. Mafumo also has plans to launch the first large scale desalination plant in Cape Town. Seawater will be obtained from the desalination plant from offshore marine waters and discharges concentrated saltwater waste through pipeline infrastructure.

Mafumo grew up in Venda, Limpopo where drinkable water was a luxury. “One day I realised that living like this is not supposed to be normal – not having water is not something anyone should get used to. I came to the conclusion that I could change the situation,” Mafumo explained. Because of his love for science in high school, he studied chemistry at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, thereafter he was offered a job as a technician in Cape Town. Mafumo left Cape Town in 2012 for Johannesburg as a scientist.

Murendeni Mafumo removes the filter that is used to clean the water at Tikelo Primary School. He said that the filters are white before being used, but, as seen here, the filter of Tikelo Primary School is almost black, because of the contamination of the water.

Mafumo was inspired to come up with a solution for the South African water crisis. He left his job and established Kusini Water. Mafumo believes that nothing can keep you from achieving your goals if you aren’t afraid to change your course and if you are innovative.

For every litre Kusini Water sold to households in affluent areas, 20 litres will be given to communities in the Cape Flats. Profit made by Kusini Water will go towards the construction and operation of new water plants planned for the Cape Flats.The water plants will provide advanced Kusini Water treatment systems and water recovery for gardening and common latrine flushing.

Mafumo aims to build a network of locally owned franchise water businesses through operating on a social franchise model. “Kusini Water follows a shared-value approach that aims to reconnect companies’ success with social progress,” Mafumo said.

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