JOHANNES Ramodike (34) lives in a shack ekasi, but he enjoys the luxuries of life in the suburbs.
Talented Johannes from Freedom Park squatter camp outside Seshego, Limpopo has installed a camera on top of his shack so he can see if thugs are near his place. He also has an alarm system that goes off if somebody opens the door.
Nobody in his kasi has electricity or running water, but his tiled bathroom has a full-size bath and toilet, and a huge barrel with firewood underneath acts as his geyser.
Johannes uses solar batteries with a convertor to change the sun’s power into electricity.
He has also built a ceiling for his shack.
“I was born with this talent. I get inspiration from my dreams. I believe my ancestors guide me because they show me what to do and it works.”
There is a light box on top of the roof and two speakers at the gate so you can speak to him while he is inside the shack.
“When I made my camera, I took a motor from a toy, connected it to an old camera lens and linked it to the screen inside my shack. The camera captures everything near my yard and shows it on the screen,” he said.
Ramodike dropped out of school while he was doing matric.
“My parents couldn’t afford to buy school uniforms and other kids were mocking me,” he said.
“I believe I would have been a scientist if I had continued with my schooling, because I would design amazing products every day.”
If he had the money, Johannes said he would study science and technology.
