From Surfing to Revolutionizing Local Communities with Bitcoin: Luthando Ndabambi's Bitcoin Ekasi Journey

Get ready to be swept away by Luthando Ndabambi's extraordinary shift from riding the waves to championing a financial revolution in South Africa. In his candid discussion with me, we trace his remarkable transformation from a surf coach with a penchant for partying to a devoted family man and community mentor. Luthando opens his heart about the hurdles he surmounted, sharing how obtaining his driver's license and altering his lifestyle were instrumental in his crusade to lift his township with the power of Bitcoin.

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Luthando@btcpay386617.lndyn.com

Bitcoin Only: Bitcoin for the Sovereign Individual
Adopting Bitcoin Conference Cape Town

Follow Luthando on Twitter: @LuthandoSABTC

Imagine a local economy thriving on Bitcoin – this is the vision that Luthando and I explore in our deep dive into the Bitcoin Ekasi project. Hear firsthand about the determination it took to persuade local shopkeepers to take a leap of faith into Bitcoin, and the trust it fostered in a community where financial stability is not taken for granted. Celebrate with us the victories of those who've seen their investments grow and picture a future where digital currency builds strong, self-sustaining local economies.

We wrap up with a cautionary tale on staying vigilant in the wild west of cryptocurrency, where scams lurk at every corner. Luthando imparts his wisdom on spotting the red flags of crypto scams. His personal ascent from a humble shack to a life enriched by Bitcoin epitomizes the transformative power of this digital asset. As we look forward, Luthando shares his aspirations and investment strategies for navigating Bitcoin's unpredictable tides, all while gearing up to take center stage at upcoming Bitcoin conferences, ready to inspire with his story of hope and economic empowerment.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:05

Hello and welcome to another episode of by the Horns. Today I set down with Lutando, one of the key staff members at Bitquenicasi. Lutando has been with Bitquenicasi since day one and his story is not short and inspirational. He started out as a surf coach at the Surfer Kids with the NPO that gave rise to Bitquenicasi, and he's been working with Hadamon to orange pull, the local community in Los Alvarez, south Africa. He tells me the story of how he went from living in a shack that he built with his own bare hands to learning about Bitquenicasi and becoming the driving force for change locally. If you enjoy Lutando's story, please consider sending him some sats via the QR code up on the screen. If you're listening to the audio version of this show, please find the lightning invoice in the description below. All donations will go straight to Lutando, so you can buy us a fiancee somewhere nice on Christmas With that. Enjoy this trip.

Speaker 1: 0:49

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Speaker 1: 1:32

The adopting Bitquen Capesound Conference is just around the corner, taking place at the Capesound International Convention Center over the 26th and 27th of January 2020. The theme of the conference is parallel institutions and Bitcoin. Our civil society can use this new monetary tool to drive positive change with the Bitcoin Fund. This is a fresh take on the Bitquen Conference, as it aims to bring the highly effective South African parallel institutions, with all their experience in filling the government vacuum, together with the Bitcoin community and see what magic can happen. Keynote speakers include Russell L Brote of Saakalicha, john Endres of the IRR, jimmy Song, edmund Favillard of BitBitCassie, kotsatso of Machampua and many, many more. Grab your tickets at adoptingbitcoinorg. Slash Cape Town in life in 2024. See you there. Welcome to another episode of Buy the Horns Today. I'm joined by Lutando Ntambambi. Lutando, very much welcome to the show. Good to have you here man.

Speaker 2: 2:31

Okay, I think I'm very happy to be here, for sure.

Speaker 1: 2:36

Thank you very much. So Lutando has got quite an esteemed history in the Bitcoin community in South Africa. He started out with the surface NPO, which then later morphed into Bitcoin Acassie. Lutando was one of the first head coaches at Surfer Kids and is quite possibly responsible for the orange pulling of the whole community around Bitcoin Acassie. As I understand it, you're the man who's been doing all the hard work on the ground, onboarding all the shops, teaching them about Bitcoin, and you've got people all around the world very excited about what you've been doing.

Speaker 2: 3:09

Yes, yes, people here are very happy to see me what they're welcome doing here for the Bitcoin Acassie project, because I'm trying to push the Bitcoin adoption in this township, this poor township.

Speaker 1: 3:23

Yeah, so Lutando. Before we get into what you're doing currently at Bitcoin Acassie, can you tell us a bit about your history with the Surfer Kids and how you get to where you are today?

Speaker 2: 3:35

Okay, I will start about how did I get involved for the Surfer Kids. Like, I was working like the lifeguard for Southern Trots in one of the teams here in Musinbe so I did a squad leader position for 10 years. So one of the guys like was already working at the Surfer Kids as a safe coach. So, like German did say, like okay, I won the second coach. So can you please look for one guy up to the township? You must find that out here in the JCC camp because it's where we are operating with the kids. The kids they are living here in this township. So me also I'm living in this township. So I did go to the Surfer Kids for the interview and then we did talk with German and then they agreed for me to work for the Surfer Kids and, like the first time I did work for the Surfer Kids I was paying like 500 grand and then I was trying to get my license, my driving license, so I did be able to do my driving lesson while, like, german is paying me 500 grand a week. So, like every week I have to take like 300 grand, go to driving school, give the good guy lessons for driving lessons. So I do pass my driving license. Like the salary, like the small salary, like German also was so short, how did you do it with my man? I said no, no, I have to. When I want something, I have to like do it immediately. So I did pass my driving license and then I, from there I did tell myself that, like I'm so lucky to work for the Surfer Kids Because, like I was the guy like going around in a township party every weekend, like working for the Surfer Kids did change my life a lot, because I'm this guy today.

Speaker 2: 5:49

I'm a family man. I like to spend time with my family. I don't like to party. I always around my family. Like I don't drink anymore. Now I don't have friends. Like a lot of friends with this township called like friends. They are the influence. You can just do things like you didn't tell yourself about it, like I'm going to do it, like I mean, good guy, my parents stated, raised me like right and they did teach me like you must not do this, this is wrong, and then they was pitting me a lot. That's why, like, the Surfer Kids did play like a big role in my life.

Speaker 1: 6:37

Okay, so. So then, what year was this that you started working for the Surfer Kids?

Speaker 2: 6:42

I didn't start working for the Surfer Kids in 2019 like June. I just start working on June, like those times they were there to me and also like working for the Surfer Kids. They did like teach me I can stay like without my family on my side because, like I didn't leave my family like my family's house, I was staying with my family and then I did just say, no, I have to stay alone. Now I have to find like hard ways without my mother, I have to hustle like for myself and then I have to cook for myself without a mother in my side and my father in my side. So I did find a shack, like in one of the poorest township, like here in the area in this township, where you can just put your shack and then you can just stay there without there to go to municipality to find permission to build a shack.

Speaker 2: 7:48

So I was staying in that shack and then, like our struggle, like you have to walk distance. When you want to go to the loo and also when you want to take water, you must walk like distance. And then those things every day when I come at work, I have to go for work to take some water, but I have to walk distance, especially when it rain and the road is becoming slippery. You can sleep. You can just fall with a packet of water. So my life was difficult, very difficult. You are here, yeah.

Speaker 1: 8:23

I'm just feeling this.

Speaker 2: 8:23

Yeah, I'm just feeling this Compend again to water is difficult. I was living like a hard time. That's why I'm pushing like I'm pushing like this now, like I'm trying my best. So like again, just push, okay, no-transcript. Yes, that's why I'm trying my best to push a lot, because I didn't feel the high grades in life. I want my life to be better now.

Speaker 1: 9:09

So just for people who don't know, people from overseas you don't understand what it's like to live in Shack. Can you explain to people? So you say there's no water, there's no point, you had to build a Shack yourself first off, right?

Speaker 2: 9:23

Yes, yes, I do, I do come there and buy some wood and things for the roof. And then it was very difficult and also I was not having electricity. I had to ask the neighbors they are staying next to my Shack to give me some electricity. And then I had to rent an electric city like give those guys like $150 a month. So I was not so bad, like to give those guys because I was working. So every month I had to pay the electricity bill. So every like I can buy electricity, like during months, but end of the month I have to buy. I have to give those guys like $150 a month, but I did buy electricity. Like every time when electricity is running off they come to my Shack and they say, no, there's no electricity, so it's your turn now to buy electricity. I have to buy electricity and then I have to give those guys like $150 a week, a month and also like if we sorry.

Speaker 1: 10:38

And what's it like in Windsor? You know when it's cold outside, does a what is it? Is it cold inside the Shack? You know the insulation like in there.

Speaker 2: 10:47

Yeah, it's very cold inside to stay inside the Shack. Like you stay in the Shack. Like it's very cold, like especially when it's so windy. Remember last now, the time like I was still staying on the Shack, like in 2021, there was like a lot of wind, like it's windy 100 kilometers per hour, like the roof of the Shack like it was like shaking, like you see, like I was saying like to my girlfriend no, the Shack is going to flow with us away, we have to go, we have to go out of the Shack. And then it was really hard. And also, when it's raining, especially when it's raining, like you have to just move the bed from another side of the Shack and then, while we're still sleeping, like it's another rain that is coming inside the Shack. We have to just wake up, move the bed, put the bed to another side of the Shack. But, like, the life of living in the Shack is very difficult, very, very difficult.

Speaker 1: 11:52

Yeah, yeah, I'm sure, I'm sure. And in summer it must get very hot as well.

Speaker 2: 11:58

Yeah, yeah, I'm like, yeah, yeah, I'm sure I'm not even having a wind. Or even just imagine, like in summer, like there's no wind on there, Like I was struggling to put the wind on, like maybe, like I did make a plan, like I do small wind just to open it when it's too hot, and like in December, like I take my girlfriend the Sefa Kids headquarters, that's to chill there, because it's better to chill there than staying inside the Shack. Like, like swimming, like people like on the ocean, and like we, every day, like we have to walk down to the Sefa Kids headquarters to chill there than staying on the Shack because it's too hot, like in summer.

Speaker 1: 12:45

Yep, Okay. So so you get a job at Surfer Kids in 2019. You start working, you build your first house, which is the most you've ever done in your lives? They never built a house. Yeah, and then you discover Bitcoin, right?

Speaker 2: 13:03

Yeah, yeah, because just I think the two jobs for me, she and my life. And then we did the approach. Yeah, I was like the time that we just find the Bitcoin, the class approach, at me and Elmar, I was still staying the Shack. So, like on that year, like we started the Bitcoin Ecosy project, like I was just coming at work like at six o'clock and then, like I would just put my bag down, I say to my girlfriend, no, I have to find Shack, I have to find shop owners because, elmar, they want me to find shop owners. So, like I was walking around, like at night, like looking for the store, like to accept the coin from us. Because I already like noticed the situation of the safer kid. Now the safer kid is going to be dead. So I have to just try, try my best, so like you can start the conicals with Elmar, like try to find more shops. Because Elmar did say to me like if we have no shops, this team will not gonna happen, like the project noted is not gonna happen if we have no shops. We must first find shops and then I'm gonna pay you in Bitcoin. You don't have to spend those Bitcoin, those shops. So that's why, like I was working hard to find those shops, like just walking around. Like my girlfriend just asked me sometimes where are you going? I said no, I have to find shops. I'm going to find shops now because, like on a day like I'm dead, the safer kids, I'm peace with the kids, I'm coaching the kids, so I don't have time like to walk around on a day looking for the shop. So I have to do that Like after the, after work, trying to find shops and then, like most of the owners of the shop, they come like later to collect money.

Speaker 2: 14:55

So that's the right time for me, like I was trying to find owner of the shop because the guys at the shops, like at the day, like only clicks the guy, they are chance working for the shop owners. So those one they can say no, I'm gonna accept Bitcoin. So I was one the owner of the shop. So I'm just walking around at night at 10 trying to find more shops walking around and I come back like at my house like 10 o'clock, half past 10 at night, like at night like trying, trying, trying, like walking around, trying, trying, trying.

Speaker 2: 15:34

Like I did find like shop, like one shop, a certificate guy, and that guy did say, okay, no, I'm gonna accept the coin from you guys, because the guy was know me, like since I was I was younger, like I was still in primary school, so I did know that I won't bring something like scam to him and also like the first, like the first shop, but in 2021, in 2022, yeah, in 2022, yeah, in 2022, I did move out on the check and then I did live in the house the proper house, because of Bitcoin, so like now, so hang on.

Speaker 1: 16:24

Hang on, so you use. How do I come to you? We start the Bitcoin and Cassie project.

Speaker 2: 16:32

Yes.

Speaker 1: 16:33

It's under listen. We need to go and sign up shops because the point of this project is we're building a circular economy, so we're going to pay the kids that, the search and the coaches. We're going to pay them in Bitcoin and we need to have shops locally. The guys live that they could spend the Bitcoin, so it's up to you and find out these shops.

Speaker 2: 16:50

So yes, every night you're going out.

Speaker 1: 16:53

You're speaking to people in the shop owners to get them on board.

Speaker 2: 16:57

Yes.

Speaker 1: 16:59

It's really difficult, right. Because, they don't know what Bitcoin is right.

Speaker 2: 17:05

Yeah, I have to explain to them what is Bitcoin is. And then, like I have to do like I could use platform like Petri field, like to buy them at a time. I have to demonstrate to them, okay, this is real money, you can buy a time with it, you can buy everything with it. You can go in a minute. We can do some pros and cons. And also, like those guys, like the guys, like the foreigners, like they are the guys from Ethiopia, like they are the hardest guys, like they detailed yourself, like we want money in South Africa. So like if you would just come with Bitcoin to them, like it's very hard. And also like when they need money now, now, he could be there for them. You have to exchange their Bitcoin to fear. And then, like we must not kill them hard times Because, like those guys, they can just give up easily.

Speaker 2: 18:01

And also, like I was yeah, I was explaining that to Slu. One of the guys is helping me to on board shops now. So I've been telling Slu that, okay, this guy is, if they need money, just to be there Now, now, now, don't take days. Even if they give you Bitcoin, they say, okay, can you please exchange for me, this man, like this amount of money. You have to do that right now. Don't take days like because they can kill yeah, now, now, now, they want now, now, now. You must not just spend days without going back to them because they couldn't say like no, no, this thing of you, I don't trust it anymore. Now you see.

Speaker 1: 18:44

Yes, so you had teach yourself Bitcoin. Before you could do this, you had to know what you were talking about. So what was your journey like? Learning about Bitcoin? Because you obviously had to learn about Bitcoin before you can go and tell others about it.

Speaker 2: 18:57

Yeah, my family, my family, my family was so hard and also like a man was giving me like hard time.

Speaker 2: 19:06

He said my money, you have to learn this now, now, now, don't take time, because you are the one going up the down town ship like explain Bitcoin, what is it? And then he gave me some articles to read, like in Bitcoin and Vendoli. He was giving me that book, like to study it, but in via PDF. So every night I have to read that book at my house. And also like every Tuesday, like we used to have a meeting every Tuesday with them. So the time like I'm just going down to the beach, like Tuesday morning, I was just thinking about Bitcoin. What is this? What is the thing Bitcoin? And then he was telling me about Satoshi Nakamato. I say, yo, you like talking Chinese to me. What is Satoshi Nakamato? I don't know.

Speaker 2: 19:58

I was very hard to me. Like to learn about Bitcoin was very hard. And you know, give me like hard time. Like you will stand like from Intel clock team two o'clock and then you will be like when I have to go first the kids up the town ship, you will say, okay, best off for now, and then next week you have to explain for me these things. He gave me home eggs. I have to go read, I have to find, I have to go to do some research. You know I was doing hard, I was very hard. It's because of a man. I know what is the coin is today. He was my teacher. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 20:37

Yeah, and, but now so how many shops? So okay, so you, so you learned Bitcoin, you speaking to the shop owners, how many shops have you on board in the local township now?

Speaker 2: 20:49

We have 30 shops in 2000, now 13.

Speaker 1: 20:55

13. So you got 13 shop owners in that township to trust you and to listen to you. And I don't think people understand who, listening to the difficult that is to get people to trust you in that environment. You know, because it's money, you know and money is scarce there. So, yeah, that's, that's food. That's not on the table tonight, you know so a lot of, a lot of trust they're placing in you.

Speaker 1: 21:21

And now the point is what, coming on on three years old to three years old, and those shops are still there at, they're all still accepting, but yeah, sometimes we are still accepting Bitcoin, but only one shop.

Speaker 2: 21:33

Like I can say to you those guys they are, so it appears like they are the ones like they're giving us problems Because, like I don't know what those guys like they are thinking about, we don't have problems, like with the South Africans. Like South Africans are very happy, like one of the shop, like I did on board, like first time, like the time was starting they become sick. You still happy even today because, like you have some couple of friends, like in the, in his savings wallet, like it's a lady have some big couple of friends, like it did save a lot.

Speaker 1: 22:13

It's the one.

Speaker 2: 22:13

He did save a lot and then you can see what the coin price is doing now, because it was like short. What the process is coming is come from 200,000 red now is 800,000 red. That's a very, very big difference. It is very, yeah, and also like we have a guy like like he is a cowish guy, the guy I always take the pros that we watch the closer and I paid. That kind of Bitcoin is very like, is very like always everything we do like is always there, like in this past Saturday, like we were having a two smart spot for the kids and also it did went there. Like it's always here when we're doing something for like meetups, always available. You say no, no, I'm not going to be available, just make a plan just to be there.

Speaker 1: 23:07

Yes and so. So when you were telling people about Bitcoin previously, they they had to trust you when you're saying, look those things going up, because they haven't been in a room, but when they haven't seen it go from zero to 200,000, you know they just got in at 200,000. But now it's at 800,000. And now? You have much more credibility right now. Everyone You've been telling them for years. And when was there.

Speaker 2: 23:31

When was 200,000 red one to call it enough up to 800,000 red and I don't think it's not instant. Now they see I'm at this price of the coin is the king. And then another guy is like they have shirts. We are painting the checks down there For those guys. They are struggling a lot like the guys are staying on the checks Same checks like I was saying with but we paint those checks and then we keep those guys like 60 and in Bitcoin every week.

Speaker 2: 24:00

So those guys they just keep the Bitcoin like sometimes they don't use it like they want to save it same same when they have like 500 and they can go to the shops make something like some like big grocery for themselves. And one of the guy and save also like is living on the check with painted in his check, is like was saving, like you are saving me a 3000 in his wallet of Satoshi While, like I did paint the checks and then we pay him, pay him every week, so young that he didn't lose that money because he has dropped like it's working as a security guard. So he didn't just keep it on his phone. That man now on his only on his Jade, high toilet now he have like seven seven.

Speaker 1: 24:51

Don't tell people how much money he's got in his Jade.

Speaker 2: 25:02

Yes, he had a wallet. You see that. You see the tweet. You don't see the tweet that we are my chair.

Speaker 1: 25:10

I give some couple of friends Wow, it's amazing to see that these guys are. So. This is the evolution, right? So people have no Bitcoin. They find out about it, they start earning and saving and it's small but it was growing. They keep it on their phone and wallet Satoshi. And now next step, that's got a hard way wallet and they story. Yes, they understand why. They've learned why. Because you can't trust a wallet that someone else is holding your Bitcoin. You must keep.

Speaker 2: 25:42

Yes, I did explain that to the guy. This wallet you are using now is for someone else, so that someone can close anytime and even when I lost your Bitcoin. So it's better to have this hard wallet to keep your own Bitcoin. So no one is owning the Bitcoin, no one is using Bitcoin, it's just you. You can keep your Bitcoin offline and then the guy wants so he.

Speaker 1: 26:08

And so the guys who don't have Jade Hardware wallet. I understand how to run at the Bitcoin Because he's got a. He's got a seed kit that you can hammer the seeds onto a seed plates as well, once the washes. And so the guys using those two.

Speaker 2: 26:29

No, not yet, Not yet. I'm gonna do that next year. We don't want to be just like giving them a lot of stuff. I want them to get tools for something. And then next step, I'm gonna go to them again and say, okay, buy washers for yourself. And then I'm gonna show you how to hammer the washers with the words so next year I'm planning to do that, because all the guys they can do that money, they're gonna come to me, they're gonna blame me, like I'm the one you're wrong.

Speaker 1: 27:08

Yeah, exactly, doesn't matter as well as the social. You rag-pulled them, you're the one they're gonna speak to.

Speaker 2: 27:13

Yes, yes, you're gonna come to me, you're gonna say what I'm going to do now, and then me, I'm gonna stress you and then I'm gonna tell everybody no, this guy lost his money. He's gonna play with us. Say no, no, that thing just came, you see. So they will want us to help them back. We'll see, we have all those things, yeah.

Speaker 1: 27:35

And so it started out just you and Adaman, and now are there other people in the community who are understanding how Bitcoin works and they sharing and teaching other people as well. How's that?

Speaker 2: 27:46

Yeah, we have a teacher here, sasa. He's the one who's teaching the kids and the next day we are planning to go to the adults. We want to teach the adults about Bitcoin diploma. So, like as a team, like we already finished the book and then we did try some tests about the book, so we want to just give the adults and then we want to educate, like the people from church, like we did find like it is like to do it with the church church and then we did find pastors and then ask pastors that they can give us the people they attend their church and then you already have some least of those people. So next year we're gonna start like teaching those candidates about Bitcoin.

Speaker 2: 28:39

Maybe around February we're gonna start that project to teach the people around this township because, like many people in this township, they don't like they don't believe Bitcoin because, like 18, bitcoin is a scam. So everyone like yeah, it's just, it can already, it's, it can already, it can all like what you are doing this township. But they just thought like, okay, this guy, they are doing something like scam. And then many people they did scam, like they did join scam, like before, and then they did look like many money to scammers because people they say okay, we're using Bitcoin, but they don't use Bitcoin, they just want to scam them and then run away.

Speaker 1: 29:23

Yeah, so people like they still. This is the problem the scammers, they the scammer's great problems that are ruined.

Speaker 2: 29:30

Yeah, yeah, the scammer here, very trade problem for everyone. There was a lattice scammer in the town and then people like you can see like a long queue of people. They just go there to invest their money. I keep saying to them okay, if someone is asking you money, you say it's doing Bitcoin. That's not Bitcoin, just scam, use this. People must just give you like some more notes and then say, okay, buy Bitcoin. Don't just hang your money to someone. That's a scammer.

Speaker 2: 30:04

I always keep saying telling people like that, like what you are doing here, we don't ask money from them. Like the papa, the papa shop guy, like I did go to him and then explain to him about Bitcoin and one one first way they did ask me that you are going to ask we're gonna ask money from me. I just say no, no, no, no, I'm not gonna ask money from you. Just say, okay, you're gonna use this Bitcoin. I want to cut just my hair cut to you and then I'm gonna pay you in Bitcoin. Like I do, like I did like in with trends, like I always come to your barber and they do cut my hair, I give you like 50 grand, okay, so now I'm gonna give you Bitcoin because, like, where I'm working now, I'm no longer like getting my money like in rent, so I'm just getting my money in Bitcoin. So it's better, like, get used to this, like because I don't have any cash now so I pay you in Bitcoin.

Speaker 2: 31:06

And also, like it did explain to me about the story of his friend was scammed. He said no, my friend, that's why I'm asking you are you gonna ask me money? I said no, no, no, I don't call, I ask you money. Let me explain that one of his friends, this, scam a lot of money and then now stressing because it did follow some money to people and anyone to put there on the scammers and then he lose all that money say no, no, I'm not like that, I'm not gonna ask you. Man, the guy is still happy from today, from that day and today, because the guy they are from, they are from Congo, so they just using Bitcoin, like to buy like a Bitcoin, like using Bitcoin at a time vouchers and also, like they are like they like like posting, like Hollywood those games, they like to play those games, so like they just buy a time and vouchers yep, yeah, so so is that?

Speaker 1: 32:06

that? How you, how you tell people the difference? You say listen, if someone is scamming you, they're gonna ask you to give them money. Yes, yes, yeah, to know, it's not a scam, not asking for any money at all.

Speaker 2: 32:18

I'm giving you information yes, yes, I'm that different, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's. Everything is free, like you never get scammed. So if you can take this, this like information I give to you, we never fall for schemas again. And then some of the people would hate us believe they believe me because, like I didn't blow up in this township since I was a, I was in trade or I was this township, many people they know me. I can't come with something like fake to them and then trying to scam them.

Speaker 1: 32:53

Yep yeah, absolutely, and and tell me so for you personally now, obviously, you, you understand Bitcoin and you've seen how your savings have grown and how your life has gone from you know building your own shack and living in a shack to living in a house, you know, made out of bricks. Your life has gotten better because of, because of Bitcoin. Do other people see that and and say, okay, if Bitcoin's working for its under, maybe the coin will work for me, and they try to follow your example.

Speaker 2: 33:24

Yes, like the Chinez coaches, they say that they always tell me ah, my role model, I want to be like you, I want to be in the play, I want to go overseas. I was in Uganda, so it was my first time to get inside the play, even to live in South Africa. Ah, it's because of Bitcoin. Bitcoin did like it did like. I was dreaming about going overseas, even in the plane. It was not something in my mind. While I was going, I was saying, oh, I'm not going to live in South Africa, I'm going to live here until I'm old and then I'm going to die here in South Africa without seeing other countries. But Bitcoin, bitcoin did show me that everything is possible if you use Bitcoin and then you save in Bitcoin.

Speaker 1: 34:14

Yeah, yeah, and you save in money. You save in money that no one can take away from you. You know, you've got your 12 words in your head like no one can take away from you.

Speaker 2: 34:27

No, no one can take that away from me. And if you like the parents, they like no one can see what I have in my state wallet now, only me. I can see that, not even like, like the time my grandma was giving me like money in fear, like I was not thinking about saving my money in the bank because I know that thing, and then also, like I'm going to put my money to my data there and then I'm going to end up using that money because I'm going to the mall, like every weekend, I'm going to say, no, I want to buy this thing. Like I seen extroverts, I have to go to my bank to take out that money. So, bitcoin, if you have Bitcoin in state wallet, you will never think about taking out that money there because you will not think like twice, I can go there, take the money. No, no, I was not do that. Like always, like sometimes I can be in the corner, but I'll never think about to go to my state wallet and then withdraw those Bitcoin. Well, I'm just thinking about the future.

Speaker 2: 35:30

No, no, I have to keep it. I have two sons and then those sons, like they have to go to school and then I have to make those boys like men's. You know, you know about my culture. You take the point to the mountains. So that thing is going to help those boys, it's going to help my children to go to school. So that's the problem. I can just keep stacking, stacking sets, because, like, and then I have to marry, I have to marry, and then I do have a pot rig, the ring. You know the ring.

Speaker 1: 36:06

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know the ring, I thought last year. I know the ring.

Speaker 2: 36:11

Yeah, yeah, yeah, that ring. I'm going to make a call with that ring. I'm going to put some sense and put call there and then I'm going to say, okay, I'll marry you girl, without taking the money to her parents and say, no, there's the money, I'm going to just give the ring.

Speaker 1: 36:27

I'm going to marry this ring here, you must find out from her dad if he will take Bitcoin rather than cows.

Speaker 2: 36:33

blah, blah, blah, yeah, yeah yeah, I will find out, but you need to take the coin Because that's when yeah, my grandfather did it when there's some knowledge about what to act out to be, because I would share some knowledge to him about Bitcoin. What's the difference about things and Bitcoin? Always, you know that, she knows that.

Speaker 1: 37:00

And has it? So you say Bitcoin's changed your perception on saving and money? He?

Speaker 2: 37:05

will save completely, completely. I didn't think about saving my money. I didn't just call there and say, okay, I'm going to save this money 2000 red. They beg no, no, no. I didn't say Saving a step while I was starting using Bitcoin. So Bitcoin did change my mentality of saving. I say no, man, this thing is better to keep your money with it, because one day it's going to change my life a lot. And also that time, meroma was telling me about Bitcoin like it was around one million red in November, november 2021 was million red. And I was saying to him man, no, no, no, I'm too late. I'm too late to save Bitcoin. It was already one million red. He said no, no, man, don't know how to, he's going to trash again. And then I just say that okay, he's going down.

Speaker 1: 37:57

Okay, the 200,000. The 200,000.

Speaker 2: 38:02

Oh, yeah, he's going to do that. Yeah, yeah, he's going to do that. He's going to go up and then he's going to come down. I said, okay, now I understand. Okay, every four years of the saving, someone will start more like why Bitcoin is down. You have to start more, more, more, more, more safe. Then, when you go up, you have to take some profit and then you must leave some Bitcoin as well. Don't don't sell it all. And then I also like have that mind, if you went up and then I'm going to take some money and then leave some, and then he's going to trash and then I'm going to start again, why is this down?

Speaker 1: 38:40

I want to know that, when you take that risk, when you try to trade, when you say, okay, now I'm going to sell some of this high, and then you sell and keep going up and it goes up.

Speaker 2: 38:50

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I will wait, I will wait. I don't get money for long time, long time saving. No, it's got the end.

Speaker 1: 39:05

Absolutely. You said you went to Lugano, so you went to Switzerland to the conference, and then you went to Ghana to the African Bitcoin conference as well. What were you?

Speaker 2: 39:15

doing at the conference.

Speaker 1: 39:17

Did you go speak or did you just go as an attendee to be there?

Speaker 2: 39:22

Okay, when I was in Lugano, I was there to be a speaker. So I did talk about the onboarding shock and success. Also, like that was my first time to be in front of the people, like explaining what I'm doing, like I was stressing, like I was really stressing, but I was not stressing like while I was here in Musibai in South Africa. The day I just arrived there in Lugano, I did say, yo, this thing is happening. Now I have to call on stage, talk about what I'm doing in the Bitcoin accounts. You know, I was stressing a lot. And then that day we did have a podcast at Lugano, frankly, with the guys there just organizing the conference. So I didn't get like in the morning I was talking, my presentation was at 4 o'clock 4 o'clock afternoon and in the morning everyone did tell me that, okay, we're going to go do a podcast now In the morning. And then we did that podcast. After that podcast, my stress like did go like a little bit down and I was saying, no, I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it, I have to do it. And then I had a guy in, you know Roman, roman from Bitcoin page. Yeah, I was listening, he was printing the machine. And after I did present, I said no man, roman, 19th century, he did it. So I was like did it, but I was just talking, talking, talking, talking. And then I went on stage and then I did talk and then people then did ask me like many questions about the presentation I did there. So I was busy after, like I was talking, like after my cooking, and then I was like leave, like I feel like no, I don't stress, now I ask people what they want to know.

Speaker 2: 41:30

So, like I went to Ghana and then in Ghana I was not going to, I was not a speaker there, I was just going to for the experience and then meet more people. And then I was saving a task from Erman to try talk with Peter Makomak, a guy here, biggest book artist, like I did that. And then I did meet the guy and then I did take a picture with Peter Makomak and anyone want to say, like I did explain to the guy no, I'm the guy like I'm looking for Bitcoinica as a project. And the guy was just like ah, with the film of Aubrey. He said no, no, I remember Aubrey, I did see that film.

Speaker 2: 42:16

I said yeah, I'm that guy like I'm looking for the Bitcoinica as a project community leader. And then he said, no, he's going to come this side to visit, like to visit our project. And also I was so happy. Like they say, no, no, you must come there, you must come to just film our project to see what we are doing there. You're going to be happy to see what we are doing there. And the guy said, no, I'm going to try to come, so I'm waiting for him to come now. He have to come. He have to put us like all over the world People. They have to know us.

Speaker 1: 42:50

Yeah, yeah. Look, it's Wednesday in England now, so he's going to want to leave there any time. I'm sure it's cut at the moment, so he'll be here.

Speaker 2: 42:58

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 43:01

He's trying to convince him to come to the Cape Town. But he's going to find himself a ticket. Well, but then I hear. I hear you speaking at the Cape Town Bitcoin conference as well.

Speaker 2: 43:14

Yeah, I'm going to speak there Well, but I don't have stress. I don't have stress about speaking there. But the panels like, if everyone can put me on the panels, but I will try, but you tell me that the panel they have the most team, difficult teams to talk about, to present Because they the panels you don't, you don't like, you don't, you don't, you don't do slides, you just go there Someone can ask you questions and you don't have to answer those questions Right the way he asked you about. You have to keep them like right answer. And the panel they have the most difficult teams done to present.

Speaker 1: 43:56

Yeah, for sure. Yeah, and so tell me. So we're going to see you in January for the conference in Cape Town. Yes, what is your, what is your vision of aid? You think, but Quinacasi, where do you see? But Quinacasi going over the next five years, what's your, what's your plan and vision for where it goes?

Speaker 2: 44:18

Okay, like my vision about Bitcoin accounts is like, like, if I can see like most, like most of the shop, like here in this area, like where Bitcoin accounts is like they are setting Bitcoin, like many people here in this township, like I want to see them like they are using Bitcoin. So like next year, maybe next or next year, like we are planning to build like a building like Hope House. So maybe like people they're going to believe of what we are doing here If they say that building is happening down there in front of the school, like close to the ocean when you go down the beach. So if we can build that building, maybe people are going to come, like trying to listen what Bitcoin really is. So we are just renting a house now, yeah, in New York, the proper house like house, house, house, house, house, like normal house. So people maybe that's the problem they don't just come and ask what, what, what are you guys? What are you to be here? But a lot of people they don't come here like they are just walk, pass, pass, always pass the sender. They don't come. So maybe if we can have that, that, that, that, that that building there, and then they're going to come, most of them, they're going to come and also like one of the councilor here in this township is so keen for us to go paint and hope his shake because that guy here like is the farmer, he have cows, he have goats, so it just take people from Mr Cape and then they just leave on that share. So we did see like most of the shake down there they are painted like some local, they have nice locals and anyone in his shake also to be painted. So if I can paint that house of him and then pay him with Bitcoin every week, maybe he will convince, like many people like to start learning about Bitcoin and then study.

Speaker 2: 46:48

Because what words did give me that they say? He said to me like he support Bitcoin, he support the work that we are doing this township trying to change this township, because some most of the shop in this township like they did get jobs like every day, like you will see. Like there's another shop probably up there was happening last night and then one of the owner he did shot on his head while we in Lukaano we are a man. And then I hear with the with one call, with the guy that you are in helping me about the onboarding of the shop. He say no one of the shop owners did get shot on the head and then died because of those two tanks. They were want to rob his man or his shop.

Speaker 2: 47:42

So, like the guy will see, what we are doing is really like like Bitcoin security for the shop, because you will see Bitcoin on his phone and then that's the security and then he can take your phone, run away the phone, but we'll get the Bitcoin back. It is not that fear. If they take, your money is gone, but if you can take your phone, you will never worry about the phone. You will worry about the phone, yeah, and then that people call you will get it back. Things explained that to the shops like no, no, bitcoin is just a security of your money. Try to get it and then use it and then accept payments. So I want to see a lot of people they are using Bitcoin at this time shift.

Speaker 1: 48:28

That's my dream about people. People don't understand who lives. You know that people living in Lugano. They don't understand that you're running people come and shoot you and they take your 500 and you've got, they'll take it.

Speaker 2: 48:42

They'll shoot you for your 500 and yes, yes, people who don't understand it, because those things like shop property, they are not pepening in Lugano, they are not happening in Lugano, just simply here in South Africa. Because in South Africa, like like many people, they are not working. It's a lack of, like unemployment, drugs, many people, they have to win drugs, so they are not working, they want to buy drugs. So that's the tune like they make them to rock rock shops. Because they see, those guys, they are not from here in South Africa, they are from like Africa to another account. So we have to go help them, take the money from them. And also, like most of the guys, they don't want to work, they just want to hang around in the township.

Speaker 2: 49:33

And also, like one night they did stole our TV here at Piconica's as a sender. They stole our TV and then one morning you just wake up there's no TV. You see, like those things, like they are happening, they will be happening. I wish also, like I did see, like in El Salvador there was a lot of time as soon they did make Bitcoin as a legal tender and then try and just like drop. And also here, if many people, they can just like start to Bitcoin and try to use Bitcoin and then the time like it will just drop, drop a lot.

Speaker 1: 50:14

Can you imagine South Africa if the crime went to like it didn't El Salvador? How amazing this country would be.

Speaker 2: 50:21

You know it will be very, very amazing. And then you want to create, like, more jobs for the people like, yeah, pay them in Bitcoin and then maybe they will start like using it. And, like Herman did mention that, we have to start like a project. Like we use the parking and then we just go around the township like we have people, like they are working for us. We just just sweeping the streets, pick up the papers and then we pay those guys in Bitcoin. Just sweet. Is that? Like a like? Like we want to want to create more jobs for the people they are living in this township and also we have the carding master now for us. The guy like is just sending the card for us and then we pay that guy in Bitcoin every week. So, like we wish to give more people a job opportunity, more job opportunity.

Speaker 1: 51:17

Absolutely All right, but I don't think we're going to wrap it there Before we go there. Where can people find you online? Where can people follow your work on Twitter or where have you got a? Where can people find you?

Speaker 2: 51:30

Okay, like I'm active now, I'm more active like the more like in Facebook, just like I started this project that make you more in Twitter. On Twitter you can find me like Lutano SAPTC. That's my handle on Twitter.

Speaker 1: 51:49

All right, all right, great, I'll put it in the. In the description of the video People can find you, lutano. Thank you so much. This has been a great conversation. I really enjoyed it, man, and I'm going to see you in about a month's time, six weeks time, in Cape Town. You know right, talk some cuffs, it's going to be great. Yeah, I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait, we'll go for a surf as well, but you must remember there's cold water in Cape Town. You must bring your thick weights.

Speaker 2: 52:14

Yeah, listen, tech. I was in the playing music there. Give me water. It is very cold.

Speaker 1: 52:20

Not at all. It's very, very cold. We'll take you to the campsite. It's much colder.

Speaker 2: 52:24

Oh, the campsite here. Yeah, I'm going to just call there. I will call there as well, no problem, I'm going to work for you. Yeah, you must do, I'm going to work for you.

Speaker 1: 52:32

I'm going to work for you. I'm going to work for you.

Speaker 2: 52:35

Yeah, you must do, I'm going to work for you. Yeah, you must do, I'm going to work for you, yeah, yeah, just to call my, my, my.

Speaker 1: 52:44

You don't get the surfers here. Yes, yes, yes.

Speaker 2: 52:47

Because Cape Town water is very cold. You are here, I know you are here, I know, I know.

Speaker 1: 52:53

All right, let's have a great man. We'll chat soon, Thank you very much.

Speaker 2: 52:56

Okay, nice, good evening guys. Okay, sharp, nice to meet you.

Speaker 1: 53:00

You too, man Cheers, cheers.