During July 2019, a proudly North West product – Moonshine Reflective Livestock Spray was launched to the communities of Dryharts and Matlapaneng villages near Taung as part of  Mandela Month initiatives.

The innovative product, Moonshine, is a reflective paint for livestock that makes animals visible at night to motor vehicle drivers, thus avoiding accidents and protecting livestock and motorists alike. During the launch, members of the community received the product to use it to spray and thus protect their livestock.

The innovator of Moonshine, Morebodi Memphis Kaotsane hails from Pudimoe Village in the Taung area. He was also present at the launch. Development of the product started after Morebodi won second place in the 2016 North West Innovation Competition that was hosted by the Office of the Premier, NWDC, NWU and TIA.

Since its conceptualisation, the NWU’s Technology Transfer and Innovation Support Office, in collaboration with the NWDC, has been assisting Morebodi with the technical development of the product, which included ensuring that the spray is not harmful to livestock’s hides.

The launch of the product at the innovator’s community of origin near Taung was made possible by the Road Accident Fund (RAF). The RAF has come out in support of Moonshine and have sponsored the first order of two thousand cans. Their vision is to roll-out the product to other provinces.

In a background document to the event, the NWU’s Technology Transfer and Innovation Support office stated that:

“We find great inspiration in the Moonshine project in that it demonstrates:

• That rural youth innovation is alive and well in the North West Province
• That our rural citizens can devise solutions to the challenges in their own communities
• That donkeys and cows play an integral role in the livelihoods of our rural families: behind every donkey or cow, is a family”

Moonshine’s innovator, Morebodi Kaotsane has also been selected as a 2019 finalist in the SAB Foundation’s Social Innovation Awards. The Social Innovation Awards are aimed at innovators, social entrepreneurs, institutions and social enterprises with prototypes or early-stage businesses that can solve social problems. Videos on the finalists are currently being produced as part of the competition’s judging process. Since Memphis was shortlisted by the SAB, he has been invited to attend a two-day workshop as part of the competition process, that will take place from 27 to 29 August 2019. At the end of the workshop, applicants will present their innovation solution and up-scaling plans to a panel of judges, resulting in the selection of the winners. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony scheduled for October 2019.

For more information on Moonshine, contact Morebodi Kaotsane on memphis.kaotsane@gmail.com

Pictured in Dryharts village at the launch of Moonshine Reflective Spray, were, from the left:
Mr Siphamandla Gumbi, Senior Manager: Road Safety at RAF; Ms Malebo Molefe, Provincial RAF Manager, Mafikeng CSS; Mr Morebodi Kaotsane, Innovator of Moonshine; Mr Hannes Malan, Commercialisation and Advancement Technology Transfer & Innovation-Support Office, NWU and Ms Hantie Hoogkamer, Manager Research & Innovation at NWDC.

Pictured in Dryharts village at the launch of Moonshine Reflective Spray, were, from the left, front: Ms Ketlareng Polori, Senior Specialist: Commercialization at the Technology Transfer & Innovation-Support Office, NWU; Mr Siphamandla Gumbi, Senior Manager: Road Safety at RAF; Mr Morebodi Kaotsane, Innovator of Moonshine; and Mr Tshidiso Motlhabi, Assistant Director, Stakeholder Management in the Office of the Premier. Back: Mr Hannes Malan, Commercialisation and Advancement at the Technology Transfer & Innovation-Support Office, NWU.

The Moonshine launch would not have been possible without teamwork and superb support staff. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the support staff in this picture. From the left: Ms Ketlareng Polori, Senior Specialist: Commercialisation at the Technology Transfer & Innovation-Support Office, NWU; Ms Suzan Boikanyo, Office Support Admin: Research & Innovation Unit, NWDC; Ms Baile Mankuroane, Tenant Coordinator at NWDC’s Taung branch and Mr Gilbert Seikaneng, General Engineering Services at NWDC’s Ganyesa branch.