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Beer bottle caps are just gems for Dennis

VISIONARY: Durban University of Technology student Dennis Gebashe is a pub crawler - but only for reasons to benefit his future. 20/11/08. © Unknown.
VISIONARY: Durban University of Technology student Dennis Gebashe is a pub crawler - but only for reasons to benefit his future. 20/11/08. © Unknown.

Mary Papayya

Mary Papayya

Dennis Gebashe, a final-year jewellery design student, collects beer bottle caps to make earrings that he sells to students and staff at the Durban University of Technology.

"These days my visits to local taverns and pubs is to collect bottle caps and not to share a few with my buddies," he concedes boldly.

His mission to create the jewellery is part of his final year project on "Found objects". Now Gebashe, of P Section in Umlazi, says the project has taught him to be a responsible citizen by recycling litter and converting it into cash.

After collecting the bottle caps from among one-time drinking partners he rushes back to his workshop and gets started on designing the jewellery.

He uses the money from his products to pay for his expenses at residence and to buy material he needs to make jewellery.

"Depending on your favourite brand, the choice is as wide as the earrings are beautiful."

Gebashe also transforms the caps into toy cars and a range of gifts.

He has been offered jobs by two top jewellers in Durban and says he is ready to rock the industry as a maker of precious jewellery. However, he said he would continue making jewellery from found objects.

The tyro tycoon also plans to negotiate with South African Breweries to use his bottle-cap earrings as corporate gifts.

The innovative visionary says youths should be creative and use anything available to make beautiful things that can generate cash.

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