For the love of animals

Abandoned, abused and other animals in need within the Plastic City informal settlement community have found a haven within The Harvest Animal Rescue Centre.
The Harvest Project runs multiple projects within the settlement and town that focuses mostly on the human rights of children and the treatment of animals.
The rescue centre is situated in the informal settlement and was established after humanitarian aid worker and documentarian Yakima Waner and Jessie Nkosi, her partner within the foundation, met a boy named Lam and his sister Hazira on Mandela Day in 2019.
“We arranged for a Shoprite food truck to enter the settlement and within the responding crowds we saw Lam with numerous dogs surrounding him.
“We introduced ourselves to Lam and he shared his inspiring story with us and took us back to his home where there were five dogs.
“The one dog named Karti was a black Great Dane who was in a terrible shape. Lam had rescued her from abusive breeders and had her for two days.
“She was completely emaciated and bleeding from the womb. The family were extremely poor themselves and were sharing any food they could find with the dogs.
“The other dogs were not in a bad condition and all their temperaments were calm and happy.
“Immediately I noticed the brother and sister had this amazing love for animals in a camp which outsiders label as barbaric and dirty,” said Waner.

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Waner is well aware of the negativity that sticks to the community from town residents and the municipality.
“Karti’s story became a life-changing one. She was our first rescue and we saved her life against all odds,” said Waner.
“She was adopted by myself due to her medical condition but today she lives a beautiful life and has a nature like no other.
“When Lam and Hazira visit her she still knows they saved her life.
“These children wanted to help any animal in despair: dogs, cats and birds.”
The Harvest Project decided to take the family of five under their wing; its ekaya project built them a new stable home and opened The Harvest Animal Rescue Centre. Lam and Hazira have gone for animal first-aid training and help with rescues and make sure the rescue camp is always clean.
They also medicate their animals when sick.
Their mother, Jabu, has also become an amazing asset to the rescue camp.
While it was her children who started it, she became the caretaker and has a new sense of pride through the facility.
“We have done many rescues together and there are resident dogs which love their life in their home,” said Waner.
“The youngest, Sifiso, Lam’s nephew who is 16 months old, is the most sensational. He is scared of nothing and the resident dogs are like his brothers. They are much bigger than him and protect him as he wanders around.
“He gives them treats and constant hugs. They even kept him up while he was learning to walk.”
According to Waner, the rescue centre is not only a base for any animal in distress but also a place of joy for the settlement’s children.
“One of the most magical things I get to witness every day while doing my visits is the amount of love these animals receive daily,” she said.
“These children don’t have TV or inside entertainment that, unfortunately, keep more privileged children away from their animals.
“These children play, they run outside and make forts, they make swings and everything they do is beside their furry best friends.
“It brings me to tears to see how happy these dogs are while others will just see the bad of a recycling camp such as Plastic City.
“I get hateful messages via social media about how the community is stealing town animals.
“This is not true. Yes, there is crime everywhere, but we see the animals enter the camp from town by escaping or being let out by negligent animal owners.”
Waner explained that since the road has been detoured, it has also brought extreme danger to the settlement’s animals and children.
“People drive recklessly on this road, expressing their disrespect for life. This also scares animals which live in the camp,” she said.
“The Harvest Animal Rescue notifies the Brakpan SPCA of any concerns of negligence, abuse or miseducation.
“In future, show respect for all life before attacking the community with no proof. Also, drive slowly on the detour road through Plastic City.
“We have also experienced some of our children who attend our school, Blessings Eco Preparatory, being knocked over by overtaking vehicles.”
For more information on the project, send an email to theharvestp@gmail.com