Urban waste miners thank the community and SkeemSaam for bringing them dignity

PARKMORE – Urban waste miners thanked the community and SkeemSaam for their support over the last year to boost their income and bring them dignity.

March 2, 2018

Sarah Koning 1 minute read

Urban waste miners show off the blanket and head scarf they donated to SkeemSaam founder Lisa Lowenthal.

Urban waste miners honoured SkeemSaam founder Lisa Lowenthal and thanked the community for their support during a ceremony at the Field and Study Park on 18 February.

SkeemSaam has worked to bring dignity and a greater income for the men who make a living from recycling.

Lowenthal has arranged for buy-back centres to regularly fetch recyclables from the miners and has given the men uniforms. This has helped many miners from Hurlingham, Melrose, Parkmore, Bramley, Petervale and surrounding areas to boost their income. In turn, Lowenthal educates miners about hygiene and community safety to bolster security and cleanliness in all the areas covered.

Lowenthal was overwhelmed by the generosity of the men she had worked to support over the last year, who gave her a Sotho blanket and headscarf at the event.

“It was such a surprise and honestly the best day of my life. I felt very honoured. It shows how a small bit of help can change someone’s existence.”

Event organiser and urban waste miner of five years Phakiso Senekane said, “Most of our men are from Lesotho, so it made sense for us to honour Lisa with a Sotho blanket. She has played a big role in our lives and residents have now started recognising us as people.”

Senekane said that before SkeemSaam, police would arrive and burn all their belongings, but thanks to the organisation, the men are now protected.

“Lisa tries her best to help the community understand our purpose. It has become easier to get recyclable materials from community members because of SkeemSaam. We want to thank community members for seeing us as people and separating their waste,” added Senekane.

“Because one person threw out a plastic bottle, I can change my life and send money home to my family.”

A truck was recently donated to SkeemSaam to assist in the prompt removal of waste from sites across the city, helping miners to receive a more regular income.