G.U.D. Holdings develops hand-wash station at taxi ranks

G.U.D. Holdings are well known for their automotive products but saw an opportunity to develop a simple hand washing system using their Indy Oil drums that could assist commuters and people living in water-scarce areas to wash their hands.

G.U.D.’s engineers immediately built a prototype to test. The mobile hand-wash station consists of two 10litre plastic drums which are fixed on a frame with wheels, a pump, water and a liquid hand soap dispenser. This simple design is effective in ensuring people are able to use it effortlessly.

G.U.D.’S BBBEE partner, Filpro, who operate in the informal market, have trialled the units in taxi ranks with high traffic volumes. Filpro conducted demonstrations of the hand-wash station at Vereeniging, Tskane, Tembisa, Pretoria CBD and Orange Farm taxi ranks around Johannesburg during the first week of May 2020. Filpro will facilitate the roll-out of over 100 free mobile hand-wash stations to taxi ranks throughout the country in the coming months.

“We received a very positive response from commuters at the taxi ranks during the trial run of the hand- wash station. People were queuing up to use the hand-wash station to wash their hands before getting into taxis. This simple hygiene practice is crucial to help us overcome the coronavirus pandemic.” says Mboneni Magada, general manager at Filpro.

Peter Mashego, chairman of the South African National Taxi Association, attended the demonstration of the hand-wash station at the Tembisa taxi rank. He praised G.U.D. Holdings and Filpro for their support of the taxi industry during this global crisis.

The innovative hand-wash station will not only benefit people at taxi ranks, but G.U.D. Holdings are also investigating offering the unit to schools, clinics, informal settlements and offices, to keep South Africans safe during this health crisis.