Innovative Jozi start-up wins City’s R1-million green award

11 November 2016

 

Ducere Holdings, a Johannesburg company that has developed an innovative system that can achieve fuel savings of up to 70% in vehicles, is the 2016 winner of the City of Johannesburg’s Green City Start-Up Awards.

 

The company was named the winner of the R1-million first prize at a gala dinner in Milpark on Wednesday November 9.

Miser, as the fully automated transmission system is called, significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is ideal for new vehicle designs but it can also be fitted into existing vehicles, ranging from minibus taxis to large earthmoving trucks. The second prize, worth R400 000, was won by Solid Insight for its one-stop solution to resource use in buildings.

Rydawi Fish Farms was named the winner of the R300 000 third prize for its Farminabox, an easy-to-use farming concept ideal for small-scale farmers. The Green City Start-Up Awards seek to unearth creative green entrepreneurs whose ideas could help boost Johannesburg’s green economy. Now in its second year, the competition was developed by the City in partnership with the University of Johannesburg and Resolution Circle. Resolution Circle is the University of Johannesburg’s technology commercialisation company.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development Cllr Sharon Peetz said all the eight finalists were inspirational.

“I look up to you. Every idea impacts the world. I would love to be able to conceptualise ideas but it is far easier in politics. This programme has been our key achievement since we have been in government,” said MMC Peetz.

An elated Andre Reynecke of Ducere Holdings said being in the competition had been a journey that had helped him to revisit the company’s business processes.

“Thank you, the City of Joburg. This award is encouraging. I share a passion for Johannesburg. It’s unbelievable what this means to us. The main thing for us is collaboration with the University of Johannesburg and independent parties. By the middle of next year our company will be making money rather than spending money,” said an overjoyed Reynecke.