THE outcome of crowded revelling at the Bay Hall waterfront area is a lot of hard work for municipal cleaning staff, as well as a source of ‘eyesore’ complaints for many residents.
But for some enterprising women, it is a place of opportunity where they earn a living from what the masses have discarded.
One such person is Gugu Mpanza who, with her helpers, patiently gathers the myriad empty tin cans strewn about – the material she will use to make wealth from waste.
Together, they flatten the cans using a hammer or stones, enabling them to store as many as possible in bags they fill and then cart off to scrap metal dealers.
It is hard work and the rewards are scant, but they don’t mind the physical punishment they endure in the heat of the day.
‘What can I do? I must put food on the table,’ says Gugu.
‘When there are mouths to feed, a person does what you must do.’
