Wandisile Nqeketho is a passionate social entrepreneur from Khayelitsha, who aims to change the conditions of the township from which he comes, through his entrepreneurial endeavours.
Wandisile is the founder of an unorthodox yet innovative museum that aims to alleviate gangsterism in gang-ridden communities. 18 Gangster Museum serves as a vehicle that aims to transport positive change into communities scourged by this destructive social ill of gangsterism.
The journey started back in 2013, when Wandisile and Siyabulela Daweti decided to open 18 Gangster Museum, due to the heightening prevalence of gangsterism in the townships. The museum opened its doors in 2016, and, to date, the museum – under the leadership of Wandisile – has worked with over 4 200 children, teaching them about the dire implications of taking part in gang activities. This has been a tool to guide and mentor the youth towards making decisions that are not detrimental towards their future, and keep them away from gangs.
Wandisile was nominated as one of the 200 most influential young South Africans by the Mail & Guardian, is an alumnus of the Salzburg Global Seminar and forms part of the Young African Leaders Initiative.
What led Wandisile to journey on this less travelled road was his love for development and social change, because the environment he grew up in prohibited opportunities for growth and development, because of gangs. He grew up in a community where gangsterism was rife, and fewer opportunities were available for the youth who happened to inhabit those dwellings.
He has seen his friends engulfed by this social plague, with some losing their lives in the process. Driven by the need to create a better community for the next generation to inherit, Wandisile has managed to create this platform, which today has a major footprint in Khayelitsha and the greater parts of Cape Town.
He believes that the townships have so much potential, if only they could be properly resourced, and have the right support structure put in place.