News / Africa
Some residents in South Africa survive from garbage
19 Sep 2015 at 04:01hrs | Views
Over 100 residents from Ndlovini, Port Alfred in South Africa reportedly survive on garbage from a dumpsite they live next to.
According to Daily Sun the residents visit the site to look for food and clothes. Some collect bottles, cardboard and other recyclable material there.
Vuyelwa Ndawuni (55) goes to the dump to collect bottles which she sells to feed her three kids. She has been collecting bottles at the site for the past four years.
The residents flock to the site as soon as trucks come to dump rubbish.
Pushing and shoving is the order of the day as people want to get the best clothes and food from the trucks.
This causes tension and sometimes leads to fights. The people said the dump helps them to survive as they also have to compete with dogs and cows.
They risk their lives and health just to survive. But eating rotten food can cause illness and even death.
Ndlambe Municipality spokesman Khululekile Mbolekwa said there is nothing the municipality can do to help the residents.
Mbolekwa said the only help they get is from recycling companies who buy bottles from them.
The residents said they have no choice but to rely on the dump to make a living. They said they are unemployed and the only way to survive was to look for food and other things at the dump. They know they are putting their lives at risk but they have nowhere else to go.
According to Daily Sun the residents visit the site to look for food and clothes. Some collect bottles, cardboard and other recyclable material there.
Vuyelwa Ndawuni (55) goes to the dump to collect bottles which she sells to feed her three kids. She has been collecting bottles at the site for the past four years.
The residents flock to the site as soon as trucks come to dump rubbish.
Pushing and shoving is the order of the day as people want to get the best clothes and food from the trucks.
This causes tension and sometimes leads to fights. The people said the dump helps them to survive as they also have to compete with dogs and cows.
They risk their lives and health just to survive. But eating rotten food can cause illness and even death.
Ndlambe Municipality spokesman Khululekile Mbolekwa said there is nothing the municipality can do to help the residents.
Mbolekwa said the only help they get is from recycling companies who buy bottles from them.
The residents said they have no choice but to rely on the dump to make a living. They said they are unemployed and the only way to survive was to look for food and other things at the dump. They know they are putting their lives at risk but they have nowhere else to go.
Source - Daily Sun
