On Wednesday, 1 November 2017, more than 500 waste pickers from Pretoria took to the streets marching against the City of Tshwane council for failing to deliver jobs that were promised to them in 2011 at a meeting that was held in August 2011.

According to the South African Waste Pickers Association the Tshwane council is failing to support and recognise waste pickers and waste recycling projects are being privatised despite the existence of waste picker cooperatives in the city.

“Waste pickers across the country face a number of challenges that threatens their livelihoods. These challenges are fuelled by the lack of recognition or support of waste pickers by their local councils such as the City of Tshwane. This challenge does not match the government’s rhetoric of ‘green jobs’. Department of Environmental Affairs through Waste Act 2008 recognise waste pickers and it is very saddening that the Tshwane Council fails to also recognise waste pickers,”the association said.

Video Source: IOL (Goitsemang Tlhabye)