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> dumpso<strong>the</strong>rs’ spaces and sometimes rest or labour near one ano<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>re isa clear spatial division between <strong>the</strong> two groups. … [T]his is a physicalmanifestation of <strong>the</strong> tensions and organizational divisions between <strong>the</strong>two groups that are based on gender, age, <strong>the</strong> type of labour that <strong>the</strong>yperform, and <strong>the</strong>ir vision for reclaiming on <strong>the</strong> landfill.Having secured sole right to <strong>the</strong> recyclables, <strong>the</strong> Phutang directors, who had noexperience of recycling, remained in <strong>the</strong>ir full time jobs and tried to “run <strong>the</strong> businessby cell phone and remote control”. Phutang simply inserted itself in <strong>the</strong> selling chainbetween <strong>the</strong> reclaimers and <strong>the</strong> original buyers, paying <strong>the</strong> reclaimers less than <strong>the</strong>ycould get from <strong>the</strong> middlemen directly and substantially reducing <strong>the</strong>ir incomes. Thebusiness ran into cash flow problems, at one stage being unable to buy materials from<strong>the</strong> reclaimers. For several months Phutang disappeared from <strong>the</strong> site and reclaimersran <strong>the</strong>ir own buying and selling again. By <strong>the</strong> beginning of 2008 Ikageng andDitamating had each registered as closed corporations with <strong>the</strong> intention of biddingfor <strong>the</strong> recycling contracts. Their plans include moving up <strong>the</strong> waste stream to connectwith households separating recyclables at source. The two groups approached <strong>the</strong>municipality to take over Phutang’s role. Alternatively, <strong>the</strong>y proposed a sub-contractingrelationship to Phutang. However, <strong>the</strong> municipality refused. In May 2008, Phutangmerged with Remade, a large white-owned company operating across <strong>the</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>rnAfrican region. Despite <strong>the</strong> fact that this would undermine <strong>the</strong> original intentionsof black empowerment, local government officials anticipated smoo<strong>the</strong>r running andincreased income from <strong>the</strong> new deal to supplement <strong>the</strong> income of <strong>the</strong> chronicallyunder funded and under staffed waste management department. For its part, Sasolwanted to recover its loan to Phutang and bring order to <strong>the</strong> municipal dump whichis adjacent to Sasol’s own dumps.Enclosing <strong>the</strong> dump with a fence – 60% paid for by Sasol – was a key strategy toforce <strong>the</strong> reclaimers to sell only to Remade-Phutang, and to get police co-operationin controlling access. The reclaimers were also to be controlled through contracts inwhich <strong>the</strong>y undertake to sell what <strong>the</strong>y collect only to Remade-Phutang. At first <strong>the</strong>yrefused and withheld sales of recyclables from Remade-Phutang for several weeks. Thecompany responded by beefing up security at <strong>the</strong> gate to prevent <strong>the</strong> reclaimers takingrecyclables out to sell independently. Then council got tough on Remade-Phutang’sbehalf:- 170 - groundWork - <strong>Wasting</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nation</strong>