Ubulele Africa is more than just a job for the people it’s helping

The dedicated team from Ububele Africa spent the morning of June 9 cleaning sections of the Sandspruit River between Katherine Street and South Road in Sandown, removing litter, debris, and illegally dumped waste from the riverbanks.

The clean-up forms part of the non-profit organisation’s ongoing mission to restore local waterways, while creating employment opportunities for people who have faced hardship, unemployment, and homelessness.

Founded by director Wendy Malpage, Ububele Africa was born from a simple, but powerful idea during the Covid-19 pandemic. Malpage recalled how she regularly saw people living on the side of the road who had lost their jobs and were struggling to feed their families.

Read more: Better Bryanston celebrates first anniversary with a clean-up drive

“On my daily walks, I would see these people and pray for a solution.

“At the time, I had R10 000 left over from a food drive that a friend and I had organised to feed children in Alexandra township. I often wondered how God, with five loaves and two fishes, could multiply my small efforts to make a meaningful difference.”

She added that while praying for guidance during a walk along South Road, she looked down from a bridge and noticed the river below was scattered with litter. “In that moment, an impression came to me: ‘Why not create an opportunity for people to clean the rivers in exchange for food?’

Malpage added that she purchased gloves, refuse bags, and clean-up supplies and approached a group of men she often saw sitting alongside the roadside.

“I asked them whether they would be willing to clean the rivers in exchange for a food parcel to the value of R150. They gladly agreed. I asked them to meet me at the petrol station the following day so that we could begin.

“When I arrived, there were more than 100 people waiting for me. I quickly realised that R10 000 was not going to go very far. That was the beginning of Ububele Africa. Six years later, I have a dedicated team of 13 people who earn R300 per day.”

For a team leader Gabriel Molepo, Ububele Africa has been about much more than river clean-ups.

Also read: Clean sweep at George Lea Park South as city enforces bylaws

Molepo said he met Malpage shortly after the pandemic, while begging at a traffic light.

“She told me she could not offer me a job in hospitality, but she could offer me a job in cleaning rivers.”

At the time, Molepo said he was battling drug addiction and alcoholism. “I was a drug addict. I was an addict and an alcoholic. I had a problem, but I couldn’t see. I was working with no responsibilities, get my money, smoke it, and then it’s finished.”

Molepo added that with Wendy’s help, he entered rehabilitation. Today, he is 36 months clean and sell perfumes as a side hustle.

@caxtonjoburgnorth The Ububele Africa team roll up their sleeves, removing waste and litter along the Sandspruit River between Katherine Street and South Road in Sandown. Video: Xoliswa Zakwe #caxtonlocalmedia #Localnews #newsupdate #Communitynews #southafricatiktok🇿🇦🇿🇦 #johannesburg #SOUTHAFRICA #Servicedelivery #Sandton #Citizenservice ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

“Ububele taught me the principles of honesty. I’m responsible now, I can take care of my family, I can save. Ububele actually is not a job that you can say you’re working. It’s a project to help individuals to change and improve their lives.”

Malpage expressed gratitude to everyone who has extended a helping hand in keeping their daily clean-ups operational.

“We could not do this without the support of residents and communities. Especially those who donate to us monthly. We would appreciate if we would get more support and sponsorship or donations.”

Details: contact Ububele Africa director Wendy Malpage on ‪083 326 6097‬.

Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!