Hector Dibakoane

About 

Hector Dibakoane is joint CEO of Makers Valley Partnership together with Noluthando Mdayi. Based in Victoria Yards, Makers Valley Partnership (MVP) can be described as the creative heart of Makers Valley. Read more about the work MVP does in the design brief’s partnership section. Hector is an active member of the Makers Valley community, wearing many hats including that of culture curator and changemaker. Hector expresses that his endeavours are fueled by his passion, sense of purpose, and love. Together, these are directed towards reshaping the narrative for African youth and altering perceptions of Johannesburg globally. He is committed to establishing platforms and nurturing safe environments where young individuals can pursue their interests, thereby fostering a vibrant community of artists. He finds his day-to-day life in Makers Valley to be a mix of fulfilment and occasional frustration. However, his driving force is the opportunity to lead change within the community.

Issues and Ideas

Makers Valley, Hector explains, is an inner-city setting with high levels of poverty. Hector sees Makers Valley as very rich in opportunities and finds that despite the problems—which are not necessarily unique to South Africa—people in this community are privileged in many ways. He notes that in Makers Valley, people from different locations, backgrounds, and cultures come together, which provides the opportunity to develop unique solutions and ways of thinking. Hector would like to see a sustainable infrastructure that facilitates cleanliness in Makers Valley. He notes that the municipal dumping centres are far apart from each other and there are insufficient public waste bins available. The waste dumping also compromises the drainage system, with waste getting pulled into drains during heavy rainfall and creating blockages. Sometimes, people will dump waste in the drains intentionally, not realizing the impact this will have. How might your ideas improve the way waste is managed in Makers Valley?

Find out more from Hector in their video interview, available here.