By Doreen Mokgolo
As unemployment rises in South Africa, many people have turned to recycling to survive.
And at one dumpsite in Ekuhuleni, the recyclers are branching out. The more enterprising among them are also running small stalls selling drinks, snacks and cigarettes, and offering hairdressing services.
They’re making extra money and their customers – fellow recyclers – don’t have to go far to find essentials like cool drinks during their workday.
The Rietfontein dumpsite now has over 600 recyclers, a number that has grown since the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020.
There is a lot of activity at the dump as recyclers separate paper and plastic, filling large bags with recyclables. The bags are collected on Fridays when trucks take them to recycling depots.
The dumpsite is informally organised, with four leaders and informal security guards making sure no one steals from others. Recyclers reportedly pay a weekly fee of R500 to the leaders for protection.
In an interview with Scrolla.Africa, recycler Lindiwe Dlamini said she is not ashamed of her work.
“I have been working as a recycler since 2005 after a neighbour told me about this opportunity to support my four children,” she said.
“At that time, my husband and I were not working and only got money from odd jobs which was barely enough for a day’s meal. I decided to join my neighbour and other women at the dumpsite every day,” she said.
Dlamini said she may be working in the dirt but the money she makes is enough to support her family.
“Over the years, I have been able to put my children through school, buy a home, and send money back to help my family,” she said.
Recycler Nyasha Moyo, who runs a salon at the dumpsite, said she is not proud of the work, but it is better than selling her body.
“It is hard to find a job in South Africa, especially as a foreign national. Everything takes money. I tried opening a salon in the township but there are too many people doing the same business and we don’t make enough money,” she said.
Pictured above: Recycler Lindiwe Dlamini.
Source: Doreen Mokgolo
