They are an unlikely bunch of environmental heroes and heroines, but East London’s informal recyclers play a pivotal role in keep at least some of our rubbish off the dumps.

Dubbed the “Rubbish Raiders” by some, they sift through trash thrown away in leafy middle-class suburbs – and thereby generate their own income by what most of us prefer to throw away.

For some – who can’t stand the thought of others rummaging through their rubbish – they’re a nuisance. Others in these suburbss don’t even notice them. A few have adopted them and are now actively recycling plastic bottles to make it easier for them.

Our team consisting of Tallulah Habib and Kgaugelo Motlafi follow Howard Plaatjie, Tiza Qobasa and Princess Bande as they troll the curbs and black bin bags of the seaside suburb of Beacon Bay.

For years-and-years they have been taking care of recycling what Beacon Bay throws away – but nobody really seem to care about that.

These are our unsung heroes. Their role is vital to our community, their existence depend on recycling – yet people see them as a nuisance. – Tallulah Habib and Kgaugelo Motlafi

Drive down Commercial Road on any given day and you will see men sitting patiently by the roadside with their tools of the trade – spirit levels, paintbrushes and planes.

East London’s informal artisans wait for passersby to offer employment – a highly prized ‘piece job’ to put bread on the table.

Most of the men claim to be qualified artisans who have formerly worked for big construction companies as painters, builders and plumbers.

The artisans arrive in the morning and wait – come rain or sunshine – for anyone to offer them a job. Some go home empty-handed. Men on the street said that they sometimes wait for almost a whole week before they are employed on a single ‘piece job’.

They are family men. One artisan said he can’t even afford to pay for his children’s school uniforms.

The stories of Commercial Road’s artisans are of hope and perseverance. They highlight how the South Africa’s socio-economic situation leaves even qualified professionals such as these men in a state of desperation. – Marshall Patsanza and Joy Niemack

How many times have you looked at the faces from behind your rolled-up car window as they walk up to you at a traffic light, begging for a few cents?

What do you do? Do you give them something? Or do you dismiss them with the shake of an empty hand while you stare straight ahead?

This is a story that will let you see these street children in a completely different light.

It’s a story of how they live and their day-to-day experiences. And it will answer the following questions: Who are they? Where do they live? Do they have families? What do they eat? Most importantly, how do they see themselves, their lives and the city they live in?

We hope that this project will create an awareness that these children are more than just an invisible presence when you stop your car at a traffic light.

We invite you to see their work and be aware of their presence. – Farzana Rasool and Tumi Tladi

Anette’s Struggle
“I know in my heart that we will climb the ladder.”

We decided to interview three subjects who would reflect this gradual cycle of deterioration.

Roy Flannigan (79), the community’s eldest, and most feisty resident spoke of how the area has degenerated over the years, and his disillusionment with the youth. Leonard Erasmus, a father and husband, talked about how he tries to maintain a respectable life despite being poor. And Hendrikus Du Preez (19) spoke of his experience as a young person in the community.

Rhodes NML students Farzana Rasool and Tumi Tladi document the street children project.