From Hustler to Professional – Aubrey Nkosi’s Journey Through the E-Waste Repair & Reuse Programme
Each year, South Africa generates a staggering 360,000 tonnes of electronic waste and – in communities like Diepsloot in Johannesburg – much of it ends up in the streets, landfills, or being burned. This densely populated township, like many others, is both on the frontline of the waste crisis and brimming with untapped potential.
Among some of its dusty alleyways and makeshift workshops, you’ll find informal repairers — resourceful, self-taught individuals keeping electronics in use with little more than hand tools and hustle.
WasteAid’s E-Waste Repair & Reuse Programme, which launched in 2023 with support from the Dixon Foundation, recognised the value in this work and set out to do more: professionalise it, and make it safe, sustainable, and profitable.
A Growing Crisis — and a Powerful Opportunity
With the Dixon Foundation’s backing, we designed a programme to:
- Improve knowledge and skills in e-waste repair and safety practices
- Equip local repairers with tools and technical training
- Strengthen business acumen and digital marketing capacity
- Create income-generating opportunities in the circular economy
- Build stronger local networks between repairers,reclaimers (informal waste collectors) and communities.
Ten active informal repairers took part in the programme, which included hands-on training in appliance repair, safe dismantling of e-waste, business development, and digital marketing. Training was delivered by local industry experts at Wot-if? community hub in Diepsloot.
Participants were also supported with grants in the form of tools and equipment, allowing them to professionalise and scale their micro-enterprises. The result: safer practices, stronger businesses, and a growing ecosystem that keeps valuable materials in use — while supporting income generation in underserved communities.
One of the programme’s success stories is Aubrey Nkosi.
A Passion Born in Wires and Circuits
At just 27, Aubrey Nkosi’s journey reads like a blueprint of resilience and reinvention. With a natural curiosity and a love for electronics passed down from his father, Aubrey started fixing gadgets as a teenager — phones, radios, kettles, microwaves, amplifiers… “I fell in love with electronics,” he says.
Before the programme, Aubrey was piecing together a living from a patchwork of gigs: fixing car wiring, selling clothes, interning at a local community hub. “I’ve been fixing stuff and doing IT because I love machines,” he explains. “But it was all through trial and error.”
So, when he heard about the WasteAid E-Waste Repair programme at the Wot-if? Trust hub, Aubrey knew it was his shot to transform his passion into something more serious — something sustainable.
Transformation in Skills and Mindset
The programme offered more than just training — it offered a shift in mindset. Over several months, Aubrey and the nine other participants learned practical repair techniques, environmental safety, financial literacy, and digital marketing.
“I learnt a lot,” Aubrey says. “Before, we didn’t even think about the dangers of burning e-waste. We just burnt it. I never thought that could damage our lungs. But now I know the smoke is toxic, and I know how to dismantle safely. ”
In the practical sessions, his eyes lit up. “Wire conductors, circuit breakers, buzzers, start buttons — we covered all of it. And the business part was eye-opening. I didn’t know much about loans, budgeting, or interest. Now I keep my business money separate. I’m running a real business.”
The Tools to Thrive
Upon completing the training, Aubrey successfully pitched for support through the project’s prize fund and received a full, specialised toolkit, including PPE, a hot air station, oscilloscope, voltage tester, and even an electronic microscope.
“These tools made things much easier, and I work much safer,” he explains. “I used to struggle to see small components. Now I use the microscope to check damaged parts and remove them easily — it even has a light.”
New Confidence, New Income
The results are plain to see. Before the programme, Aubrey earned around R500 per month (around £20), often doing repairs for friends at no charge. Now, with professional tools and a solid business foundation, his income from repairs has tripled. “I tell people my price. If they say it’s too much, I say go to someone else — they’ll also charge you. I’ve learnt sometimes you’ve got to be tough to make it. You’ve got to learn to say no.”
Today, Aubrey works full-time at the Wot-if? Trust and runs his repair business on weekends. His work is safer, more efficient, and most importantly — valued.
The Power of Belief and Dignity
Aubrey’s story is more than a tale of upskilling. It’s a testament to what happens when communities are equipped not just with tools, but with knowledge, dignity, and belief.
“Before, I was just fiddling around. Now, I’m a professional – I fix things properly. I wish the programme can continue and help others like me.”
Aubrey is no longer just fixing broken gadgets. He’s helping build a circular economy in his township — one where waste becomes opportunity, and informal skills become formal livelihoods.
The future of e-waste in South Africa might still be unwritten — but thanks to people like Aubrey and programmes like this, it’s already looking brighter.