However, it was shocking to see the environment Turffontein based ‘trolleypreneurs’ reside in. Four shacks made out of wood and covered with plastic bags were witnessed in the Sporting soccer grounds at corner President and De Villiers streets right behind the wall that divides Sporting grounds and Turffontein Primary School.
Mrs De Bruyn, a resident for more than 20 years next to the grounds, finds herself threatened by the squatters that she describes as polluting and violating the environment. She said they enter and exit the grounds with trolleys and huge heavy grey plastic bags on a daily basis. They are doing a great job by recycling but you cannot be too sure what they do at night. They also cook and pollute the air with smoke. She believed they are more than recyclers.
The squatters strongly disagree they are violating the area, polluting the environment and pose a threat to the public. Thulani, a permanent trolleypreneur argued that they do not sleep there at night and this place is just their work environment, this is where they work on a daily routine. People cannot expect a recycle environment to be as neat and tidy as their backyard because they work with waste, and waste is dirty.
There is no reason for people to fear them because they all earn an honest living just like any other normal person. When asked about the shacks, Thulani said sometimes they come back very late from work and this is where they keep their recycled material safe.
Slindile, a President Street resident gives respect and credit to the trolletpreneurs and strongly feels they are doing a great job. He always keeps the recycle material separate in a plastic bag for Thulani to collect every Thursday morning to make it more convenient for him. He would advise all south residents to do the same and save the economy and communities.
Trolleypreneurs can be respected as much as Pikitup.
Musa, who has been a South recycler for more than five years, said people should stop judging them on the way they look and dress, but they should judge them on the work that they do.
Mthunzi Tsetse
