Former Miss Earth SA (Water) and environmental scientist Pinky Mokwena has won the first South African Blue Oceans Awards for her innovative solution on water treatment.
The 27-year-old masters student from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has found an innovative way to use maize tassels to filter polluted water in an environmentally friendly way.
She walked away with R150,000 which she will be able to use to further her research and fund her company Metsi a Teng, which will sell water filter products.
Mokwena told Sowetan yesterday that maize tassels are organic waste that is left behind after harvesting the maize crop and can be used by water scientists to clean water.
"I make use of organic waste to purify water. Organic waste in the form of maize tassels are waste products that are found on maize plants. Normally we harvest crops that we eat and the tassels are normally thrown away and to make space for the next batch of maize, they are normally burnt which produces air pollution.
"My invention tackles three different challenges. On the one hand it purifies water, but on the other side it manages waste as well as reduces air pollution," Mokwena said.
The tassels are collected, cleaned and prepared in a specific scientific way by Mokwena to make them attract pollutants in water.
Mokwena, who has been working on this research since 2019, said she will be selling affordable products to help lower to middle income households purify their water.
"My products are tailored for people from diverse economic backgrounds. Just because you don't have a good job does not mean you should not have access to quality water."
Through her company, she will have maize tassel-infused products that can be used in households such as filter taps, water dispensers, filter jugs and buckets as well as filter water bottles.
"It is believed the next world war will be for water because there is such a limited amount of water. I believe this wont happen when people like me exist, who will come up with new solutions to make sure that everybody gets to have access to good quality water."
Mokwena was originally a part of 64 students from TUT who entered the Inter-University Innovation Challenge.
After winning in her category she was afforded an opportunity to enter the South African Blue Oceans award where she won the overall competition.
"I'm proud to be representing black women in this country, particularly in this field because its not a common thing [to study]. I am very honoured."
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