REMINDER: Waste pickers from Greenside to embark on solidarity walk TODAY

Community members and businesses are invited to join a 10km solidarity trolley-walk by the waste pickers in Johannesburg.

The walk is planned by the Momba Foundation and Mzansi Mamela in partnership with WastePreneurs. According to Mzansi Mamela’s CEO Mncedisi Mpofu, the two non-profit organisations would be taking a different approach to celebrating Mandela Day.

“The two organisations will pull the waste loads of waste pickers belonging to the WastePreneurs community initiative all the way from Greenside to the Newtown Recycling Centre in support of the informal entrepreneurs on July 27,” said Mpofu. He added that the walk would kick off at 8.30am at the WastePreneurs site at the Pirates Club in Greenside.

On the actual Mandela Day, the organisations gave the waste pickers a chance to relax, treating them to a hearty lunch at Pirates Club with performances by kwaito artists Ishmael, Amajimbos and Nkiyase.

Mpofu said, “We are doing this walk to show support for the waste pickers. We want to acknowledge them. We sympathise with their struggles to earn a living every day. Not having the community support makes it even harder.”

CEO of Momba Foundation, Zuza Mbatha said there are an estimated 60 000 trolley-pushing waste pickers across the country. “Waste pickers are considered the lowest of the low but they contribute to the environment and the economy. Their project should be able to continue,” he said.

Mbatha added that WastePreneurs ensures that the waste is sorted and reduces the amount that goes to the land.

Metro police spokesperson, Edna Mamonyane, however, said she was not aware of the planned walk. “I have not received any documentation or application about it in my office and it will probably be in by Wednesday.”

Details: WastePreneurs 0861 222 123.

Pirates Club 011 646 5025.