Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
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Chapter 6: Down at <strong>the</strong> dumpsBox 21: Visiting Palm SpringsWhen <strong>the</strong> groundWork research team visited <strong>the</strong> dump, a column of thick, acrid blacksmoke rose up from <strong>the</strong> salvage yard where <strong>the</strong> pickers organise <strong>the</strong>ir collections. It islate afternoon and a bitterly cold winter wind is blowing. A group of young men havelit a tyre, probably for warmth, and it burns fiercely. From <strong>the</strong> top of <strong>the</strong> dump, Loateblows a whistle and shouts an instruction to put out <strong>the</strong> fire. The reclaimers do sowithout hesitation. He <strong>the</strong>n sends a picker to summon everyone to meet <strong>the</strong> researchteam. From all corners <strong>the</strong> waste pickers ascend <strong>the</strong> dump and assemble in a circle.At <strong>the</strong> centre of <strong>the</strong> circle, Loate asks <strong>the</strong>m to describe how things have changed sincehe took over <strong>the</strong> running of <strong>the</strong> dump. Martin Themba Khosa moves to <strong>the</strong> centre andexpresses <strong>the</strong>ir gratitude. Life has become much easier. In particular, he appreciates <strong>the</strong>provision of transport to take <strong>the</strong> collected materials to <strong>the</strong> buyers. After his speech,as <strong>the</strong> wind-driven rain pelts us, Khosa shared his history with <strong>the</strong> research team. Hewas born in Johannesburg and stayed in Diepkloof until he was “kicked out”. He <strong>the</strong>nmoved in with his sister in Orange Farm. She has since died. At home he has “two smallsisters”. He has contacted <strong>the</strong> welfare to help him look after <strong>the</strong> girls “but <strong>the</strong>y didn’tcome”. He comes to <strong>the</strong> dump every day. He collects tins, glass and PET plastics.Loate addresses <strong>the</strong> meeting. “I am very proud of <strong>the</strong> reclaimers on this dump,” hesays, “and South Africa should be very proud of <strong>the</strong>m too. Out of <strong>the</strong> 11,000 cubicmetres of waste, <strong>the</strong>y manage to recycle 4,000 cubic metres. They are saving air-spaceon <strong>the</strong> dump and <strong>the</strong>y are protecting <strong>the</strong> environment.” He pauses to let it sink in, andconcludes with a view to <strong>the</strong> future: “At <strong>the</strong> moment, <strong>the</strong>re are no industries that bringwaste here. But as soon as Boitshepi is closed, we will be lucky here.”One of <strong>the</strong> pickers asks: “If we find gold, diamonds or guns on <strong>the</strong> dump, who shouldwe give it to?” It is not an idle question. Anything could be found here. The pickersonce found a fully functional pistol which was handed in to <strong>the</strong> police. They havealso found dead babies. Alongside such testimony to people’s desperation, unexplainedriches can land on <strong>the</strong> dump. Gold and diamonds? Loate tells <strong>the</strong> story that, while hewas working on <strong>the</strong> Simmer and Jack dump in Ekurhuleni, a truck dumped bags ofmoney. Literally. The pickers got rich that day.The rain stops and <strong>the</strong> sun appears. A truck arrives to off-load and <strong>the</strong> pickers rundown <strong>the</strong> hill to sort through <strong>the</strong> contents. Between <strong>the</strong> cardboard <strong>the</strong>y find neatlywrapped, clean stationary and bags. One of <strong>the</strong> bags is offered to Oupa, who declines.While Loate is convincing as a benign manager – with a solid grasp of realpolitik on<strong>the</strong> dumps – <strong>the</strong> pickers are now extremely dependent on <strong>the</strong> vision and goodwill of asingle individual.- 166 - groundWork - <strong>Wasting</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nation</strong>