Khayelitsha Brothers Turn Invasive Wetland Hyacinth Into Biochar Business
In Khayelitsha, South Africa, brothers Siyanda and Akhona Sopangisa have started a business turning invasive water hyacinth from the Blowy wetland into biochar. After canoeing was hindered by the weed, rubbish, and sewage, the brothers learned the biochar production process from the German non-profit Char2Cool. They now sell biochar and vegetable seedlings from a shop in Makhaza, while also helping establish local home gardens and a larger community gardening project.
Key points
- Siyanda and Akhona Sopangisa harvest invasive water hyacinth from the Blowy wetland in Makhaza, Khayelitsha.
- The German non-profit organisation Char2Cool taught the brothers how to produce biochar from the harvested hyacinth.
- Finished biochar is mixed with cow dung and helps soil hold nutrients and retain water.
- The brothers sell their products from a blue zinc shack in Makhaza and at the weekly Mowbray market, with plans to expand sales to bulk farming buyers.
- The initiative has also sparked the Masilime Sonke Gardening Project, which has established dozens of home gardens and secured a plot at Sinako High School.
What happened
Faced with invasive water hyacinth blocking their canoe trips in the Khayelitsha wetland, brothers Siyanda and Akhona Sopangisa began harvesting the plant to produce biochar. The German non-profit organisation Char2Cool guided the brothers through the production process via WhatsApp until they could produce the biochar unsupervised.
To make the biochar, the brothers dry the hyacinth in the sun, burn it in a kiln, wet it, let it dry for a day, and then mix it with cow dung to rest for two weeks. According to Siyanda Sopangisa, producing one kilogram of biochar requires five kilograms of hyacinth.
Context
The wetland in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, previously served as the home ground for the Khayelitsha Canoe Club founded by the brothers in 2023. However, rubbish, sewage, and invasive water hyacinth made canoeing impossible. The brothers now operate a shop out of a blue zinc shack on land that was formerly an illegal tip.
Biochar is sold for R80 per kilogram in Mowbray and R20 per kilogram in Khayelitsha. The brothers also sell vegetable seedlings, which currently outsell the biochar locally. The initiative led to the Masilime Sonke Gardening Project, establishing 46 home gardens and securing a ten-year lease on a one-hectare plot at Sinako High School.
Commenting on the state of the wetland, the City of Cape Town mayco member for water and sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, stated that alien plants were removed in January and February. He noted that such efforts are impacted by ongoing illegal dumping and sewage discharge, as alien plant species thrive in wastewater.
What's next
The Sopangisa brothers hope to secure bulk buyers among farmers, which would allow them to hire unemployed residents to produce biochar on a larger scale. Additionally, Siyanda Sopangisa plans to host market days at their shop featuring live music and local vendors selling crafts, vegetables, and braaied meat.
