About
About
Nhlanhla Mazibuko
Nhlanhla Mazibuko was born on May 18, 1991, in Sebokeng, Vereeniging, South of Gauteng. My educational journey began at Anglican Primary School in Orange Farm and continued through Lakeside Secondary School in Palm Springs, where I spent most of my formative years.
In 2009, I embarked on a five-year Bing Civil Engineering extended degree at the University of Johannesburg. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, I had to discontinue my studies in 2013. To support myself financially and pave the way for my return to university, I secured a job in the Civil Engineering field in 2014.
However, this job turned out to be more than just a means to an end. Experiencing the day-to-day realities of Civil Engineering on site led me to reassess my career aspirations. Rather than returning to university for the same course, I decided to chart a new path while concurrently launching my first start-up. This experience altered my perspective and set me on a different trajectory in my professional life.
In 2015, I established Flex Urban, a platform where I passionately shared insights on urban culture through daily blog posts on FlexUrban.co.za. From local music, events, fashion, to technology, I covered a spectrum of topics that resonated with me. By 2016, I transitioned to dedicating my full-time efforts to this endeavor. As the blog gained traction, local brands and artists sought opportunities to be featured.
However, encountering challenges with the initial construction of our blog by an inexperienced individual prompted me to take matters into my own hands. I embarked on a journey of self-learning, delving into HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, gradually expanding my skills to include PHP and MySQL.
The demand escalated beyond featuring content to designing websites for others. This unexpected turn opened up a new avenue for our business, eventually evolving into the creation of Android mobile applications.
Despite witnessing substantial growth by 2019, with a solid client base and hosting services, I found myself at a crossroads. I began questioning the true impact and fulfillment of my work, contemplating the significance of my decision to forgo completing a degree. This introspection sparked a period of soul-searching for me.
During this transformative phase, a pressing concern continued to weigh heavily on my mind: Climate Change. Recognizing it as an existential threat requiring collective action, I felt compelled to contribute in a meaningful way. This realization led me to pivot towards founding my second venture, Mazibuko Motor Company, focusing on battery electric vehicles and clean energy solutions.
While maintaining our existing clientele from Flex Urban, I made the decision to halt new engagements and redirect my attention toward Mazibuko Motors. Drawing from my past experiences of self-teaching in coding and the foundations from my studies in Electrical & Electronic Engineering and Applied Mechanics, I embarked on the ambitious journey to create Africa’s inaugural electric bakkie (Pick-Up for those unfamiliar with the term).
With a mindset of “how difficult could it truly be,” I immersed myself in the task at hand. This dedication laid the foundation for our ongoing efforts in developing the electric pick-up. Additionally, we’ve introduced a solar subscription service while also stealthily working on other innovative, climate-centric products.
Our trajectory is driven by a vision of an exhilarating future. I’m hopeful that the path ahead will unfold as thrilling and impactful as I envision it to be.
