DURBAN - Architectural draughtsman Wandile Moganedi, is converting shipping containers into smart-disinfecting units in the aims of assisting the government in reducing the spread of Covid-19.
According to Moganedi, the Smart-Disinfecting unit is a shipping container, manufactured to be placed in areas of large masses such as malls, schools, sporting events and areas of public transportation. The design and planning phase began when President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the national lockdown, it took two weeks to plan and another week to build the prototype unit.
“The coronavirus pandemic has propelled us forward, encouraging us to think critically about new ways of interacting and doing business. Putting these units together has been no easy feat and has come at a great cost to the business,”
“There were financial challenges in raising funds to build these units, even though funds were restricted during the lockdown we felt the need to build a unit that would help people in high-density areas such as Soweto. This includes individuals who need but cannot afford to buy sanitisers and PPE’s given that the majority come from low-income households,” said Moganedi.
Two of these units have been donated and already in use at Maponya Mall and a High School in Soweto.
Moganedi is also the founder of Smart Living Properties a business specialising in shipping container conversions that are reused and turned into offices, libraries and even school sanitation/ablution units.
“We have gone to great lengths, even securing loans, in order to make small changes in communities that will make a big difference. We believe that with support from the government the Smart-Disinfecting unit could assist in preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Particularly, in areas that would be most vulnerable to the potential impact of the virus such as townships and rural areas,” concluded Moganedi.
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