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Pic: UCT

With inspiration from a friend too lazy to take a shower and a few months of research on the Internet, South African university student Ludwick Marishane has won global recognition for an invention that takes the water out of bathing.

Marishane, a 22-year-old student at the University of Cape Town, invented a product called DryBath, a clear gel applied to skin that does the work of water and soap.

The invention, which won Marishane the 2011 Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award, has wide applications in Africa and other parts of the developing world where basic hygiene is lacking and hundreds of millions of people do not have regular access to water.

The product differs from the anti-bacterial hand washes by eliminating the heavy alcohol smell. It creates an odourless, biodegradable cleansing film with moisturizers.

He came up with the idea as a teenager in his poor rural home in the winter when a friend of his said bathing was too much of a bother, made all the worse by a lack of hot water.

"He was lazy and he happened to say, 'why doesn't somebody invent something that you can just put on your skin and you don't have to bathe'," said Marishane.

It was his "eureka" moment.

He then used his web-enabled mobile phone to search through Google and Wikipedia in pursuit of a formula.

Six months later, he came up with DryBath and a obtained a patent.

The product is now manufactured commercially with clients including major global airlines for use on long-haul flights and governments for its soldiers in the field.

Marishane also sees it helping conserve water in the poorest parts of the world.

"DryBath will go a long way in helping communities".

Comments

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Sat May 25 21:28:09 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 27, 2012

Mnikazi

We definately need it emakasana trains and taxi ranks cause siyafa ikhwapha. . . . But well done guy we need more of your genius. . .
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Jun 27, 2012

Papage

Yes Sowetan, how long did it take you to tell us inspiring stories of people who are making waves out there, this is what we like and our Youth can learn a thing or two from these role models, I like it, Big up to the Journo.

Well done My boy, I have a beautiful girl waiting for you.
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Jun 27, 2012

Papage

Ke moshimane wa ga Marishane, where is Marishane by the way? It is in Limpopo. Good work Boy, boy
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Jun 27, 2012

Shredder

@Six months later, he came up with DryBath and a obtained a patent.
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Good one boss.

Oh! I dedicate this article to TravelJunie and PleaseGetReal
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Jun 27, 2012

Shredder

Good innovation, but I don't think it's a good idea to rely solely on it. One needs a bath, otherwise dry bathing will have a bad smell of its own.
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Jun 27, 2012

mathopeed

Sowetan Journalists today decided to give us something to quench our thirst. Good work Journo, this is what we call investigative journalism. Thats good invention boy, keep your head up, no matter were you come from. we need this from other university's like Unisa, TUT(i doubt, ul get strike), Wits, UP(the best ebile), Turf also. Good work boy
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Jun 27, 2012

Pula

Ya Taxi Drivers will be clean now.
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Jun 27, 2012

Sgandy

@Sowetan amazing you just managed to know about this story..this is old very old news anyway....This is what I call Economic Emancipation by the youth..and this is how I wish all Black kids could be coming up with...well done
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Jun 27, 2012

Thando1987

Well done!
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Jun 27, 2012

KAPITALV

uyancomeka umsebenzi wakho mfo kaMarishane.ngiyakubongela.!

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