The second season of InnoStation, the innovation-focused channel by Innocomm, kicks off under the theme “Reframing the Game”, where InnoStation is spotlighting the individuals and ideas transforming South Africa’s innovation landscape. The first episode starts off with Thabo Mngomezulu, co-founder of Kasi Gas, a pioneering company turning organic waste into biogas and fertiliser to power homes in rural communities.
South Africa’s energy landscape remains one of the nation’s biggest barriers to equitable development. Unreliable electricity, high fuel costs and limited rural infrastructure have left millions without consistent access to power.
A former jazz musician, Mngomezulu’s journey from the stage to the renewable-energy sector shows how creativity and purpose can merge to solve some of South Africa’s most pressing challenges. “I wanted to make a difference while I make money,” he says. “Lockdown forced me to rethink how I could contribute and that led to energy.”
Through community-driven innovation, Mngomezulu and his team at Kasi Gas are tackling this head-on, proving that sustainable, affordable solutions don’t have to come from large-scale industry, but can grow organically from within communities themselves.
Founded in Fernie, Mpumalanga, Kasi Gas uses locally produced organic waste to generate affordable energy for households that have long relied on costly or inconsistent power sources. The initiative also creates local employment opportunities and promotes circular-economy principles by turning waste into value.
“South Africa has no shortage of bright ideas,” Mngomezulu notes in the episode. “What we need is funding, collaboration and compliance support to help innovators grow.” His call for a national crowdfunding model; where every citizen contributes even a single rand to support local innovation, emphasises his belief that progress begins with collective action.
The episode also dives into the often-overlooked role of compliance, regulation and skills development in the energy sector. Mngomezulu urges young entrepreneurs to seek out accelerators and training programmes that can strengthen their businesses and improve investor confidence, essential tools for scaling meaningful innovation.
By exploring stories like these, InnoStation continues to celebrate African ingenuity and challenge the conventional boundaries of innovation.
Listen to the full episode and join us in Reframing the Game! One story and one idea at a time.
