Inspired by two major challenges in South Africa, the growing problem of plastic pollution and a difficulty in accessing affordable housing, Siyanda Sibiya is confident that his invention will tackle the issues the country is currently facing.

From Vryheid, Emondlo, backed by his academic background that has equipped him with skills in production, quality management, and process efficiency, Sibiya is a young entrepreneur currently completing his Diploma in Operations Management at the Durban University of Technology. He claimed 2^nd position in the Marine Plastic Innovation category of the Marine Youth Innovation Challenge recently held by the EThekwini Maritime Cluster (EMC). Sibiya walked away with funding valued at R30 000 for his innovation, Plastic Bricks.

He says he is both humbled and motivated by securing 2^nd position in the competition.

“The contest showed me that the idea has a strong potential, while also pushing me to improve and refine my business further. It encouraged me to keep working harder and aim even higher,” he said.

Elaborating on his invention, Sibiya describes his invention as a method that converts plastic waste into durable interlocking construction bricks.

“It is designed to reduce environmental pollution while providing affordable building materials for communities. I was inspired by two major challenges in South Africa, the growing problem of plastic pollution and the difficulty many families face in accessing affordable housing materials. I saw an opportunity to connect these problems and turn waste into a valuable resource.”

“This innovation is highly sustainable because it is built on the principles of the circular economy. As plastic waste continues to increase and the demand for affordable housing grows, solutions like this will become even more relevant. By combining environmental impact with economic value, the business is designed to remain viable and scalable in the long term,” added Sibiya.

He said the funding will play a major role in helping him move his creation from concept to reality, by supporting prototype development, product testing, and compliance processes. He adds it will also help establish a small pilot production setup, allowing him to validate the product and prepare for scaling.