26 Aug 2019

The saying, ‘one man’s trash might be another man’s treasure’ best describes the life of a certain Mogorosi Batlhophi, who has found a business in putting scrap car bodies to good use. 

Since the beginning of this year, Batlhophi has been busy making a three-wheeled motorbike. 

He admits to using scrap bodies to construct his machine, which is almost done as he is currently working on its engine.

 Taking BOPA reporters down memory lane, Batlhophi tells how his creativity and talent comes from way back. 

The 20-year-old Molepolole lad started his creations when he was just a child, which talent was perfected through Design and Technology, that he did at Nanogang Junior Secondary School.

 “I used to take scraps of things and make something different, something nice and innovative. I had lots of ideas in my head back then. At Nanogang I was introduced to much advanced subjects, which I began to love so dearly,” he explained. 

Batlhophi’s excitement of a new learning environment as a Form One pupil, was cut shot by the death of his mother, which led to him being depressed, hence his grades dwindled. However, he found comfort in Design and Technology as it kept him busy.

 “I loved thinking of ideas to design. So I would do a lot of drawings to drown my sorrow because losing my mum was so hard,” he said sadly.

 His teachers soon recognised Batlhophi’s love for design as he explained that a certain Mr Daniel made it a point that he taught him how to weld and with that skill, he was able to make a unique planter as his final year project. 

Even though he was having a difficult time with the other subjects when he later went to Ledumang Senior Secondary School, he was still passionate about Design and Technology.

 He explained that here he met another teacher by the name Ms Von, who took him through his journey of design by teaching him the concept of understanding how materials work. 

Apart from school, he was also getting some tutorials from Mr Ditiro Orekeng, who had a workshop. Mr Orekeng taught Batlhophi patience as well as the necessary skills of design. 

With the combined skills he got from school as well as from his mentor, he managed to create some artifacts. 

“My first artifact at Ledumang was a wooden fooseball (selaka). 

With it I competed in the wooden category at the design fair where I managed to get position two,” he explained. He also added that his friend, Boikaego Gaetwesepe, helped him on this project.

 “In 2017 I decided to make a tricycle. I used mild steel round tubes and a chain and sprocket mechanism and it worked perfectly for the exhibition. However, I didn’t win that time,” he continued. 

Failure to secure a position at the fair did not discourage him, as his goal was to showcase his creativity as well as to motivate other children to also explore their talents like he was doing. 

“For me designing an artifact was not always about winning. What I wanted was to display my work so that people can witness that even a Motswana child can do such, and in exhibitions they would stop and admire what I made and ask questions about what inspired me. I would tell them that I like thinking out of the box and that I did it for the pride of my country, that mo Bots we got talent. My final project at Ledumang was a biltong maker,” he explained.

 After completing high school, Batlhophi met a certain Mr Allan Dumba, who is an expert in working with steel. Dumba’s talent immediately mesmerised Batlhophi. 

With the help and support of his Godparents, Batlhophi was soon working under Dumba’s supervision. 

He acquired more hands-on skills involving metal. 

While working for Dumba, Batlhophi managed to put aside a fraction of his allowance. 

By the end of 2018 he approached another creative being known as Rock, who is a motorbike mechanic. 

Though Rock’s guidance, he learnt how motorbikes worked, how they functioned and many more skills. With these skills, the innovative Batlhophi started planning for his next invention. 

He started buying and collecting what he needed. He has been working on his project from the beginning of this year. However, the motorbike project is not in any way the end of the learning road for Batlhophi as he has also enrolled at Selibe Phikwe Technical College at the beginning of this year. 

“I am doing my first year, I’m doing Machine Fitting,” he added. With the new development, one might assume that Batlhophi would halt one thing and pursue another. 

However, the energetic lad has proven otherwise as he manages to juggle his tasks well. 

He usually gets busy with schoolwork during weekdays and travels to Mmopane, where Dumba’s workshop is, to push his project during weekends and school holidays. 

He also manages to take part in some piece jobs too to generate income. “I’m always at school, so when schools are closed I go to Allan’s workshop to gain more experience.

 He teaches me well. I’m also a model so sometimes it’s tough to manage all this. I would go for model training every Saturday and I have to also go to Allan’s workshop.

 “There is also schoolwork,  my motorbike, so its tough sometimes, but I manage. So far so good. 1. Modeling 2. School 3. Project bike 4. Work,” he said with a chuckle. 

The hands-on creative lad has indeed proven that with passion, one can easily make use of the available resources to do what one wants. 

He has also proven that with love and patience, fruits can be reaped out of what many consider to be impossible. 

With his projects, he is also a living motivation to the creatives out there, who might otherwise doubt their creations. Ends