Relief secured for destitute waste pickers amid lockdown
“More than 2 000 food parcels were distributed to registered waste pickers in the province.”
Government in partnership with the packaging industry have secured a plan to assist waste pickers who have lost their livelihoods during the national lockdown.
“Working with industry and the waste reclaimers associations, we will be distributing electronic food vouchers to waste pickers’ cellphones over the coming days,” said department of environment, forestry and fisheries minister Barbara Creecy.
She said the relief initiative was focused on reaching waste reclaimers in towns and cities across the country and at alleviating distress many reclaimers faced during the lockdown.
“It is estimated that during the course of this week 3 925 reclaimers will receive vouchers they can reclaim at specified retailers,” Creecy said.
She said a total of 1 000 vouchers were given to individual reclaimers across the country by last week.
Creecy said the voucher system was being used to ease the logistics of having to distribute food parcels to all provinces.
She said the department partnered with Packaging SA, Polyco, PETCO, The Glass Recycling Company, Mpact Recycling, the Paper Manufacturing Association, African Reclaimers Organisation and the SA Waste Pickers Association on the project.
Creecy said following the discussions, the industry immediately donated R785 000 to the relief effort.
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“Hundreds of waste pickers are currently experiencing situations of extreme hardship. Waste pickers and reclaimers play a key role in the recycling sector in South Africa.”
Executive Director of Packaging SA Shabeer Jhetam said: “It is heart-warming that the members of Packaging SA have come together with the department to assist waste pickers in these trying times.”
Organisations representing recyclers have also been working with their members to develop a comprehensive list of the relief effort beneficiaries.
Since the beginning of this initiative Creecy and Velaphi Ratshefola, managing director of Coca-Cola Beverages SA (CCBSA), have led the distribution of food parcels to waste pickers in Gauteng.
“More than 2 000 food parcels were distributed to registered waste pickers in the province.”
Deputy Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Makhotso Sotyu handed over 250 food vouchers to the waste reclaimers in Sasolburg while Fibre Circle delivered 300 food parcels to reclaimers in Gauteng ahead of the Easter weekend.
Creecy thanked all the partners and urged those who had not yet donated to join the drive.
“We are extremely grateful to all those who have opened their hearts to the distress of the reclaimers. Because the need out there is so great, we urge others to join our partnership and donate generously,” the minister said.
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