Izame Zabantu is a non-profit environmental and poverty alleviation initiative. We remove plastic litter twice a week at the Black River mouth and Paarden Eiland beach in Cape Town. We started cleaning this site in February 2021 and collect around 200 bags of plastic every week. Our team members earn a stipend of R250 per day for collecting this toxic plastic litter.
The City of Cape Town collects our loads of waste from the site and takes them to the municipal dump. We are investigating ways to recycle some of the plastic we gather.
We work in partnership with The Litterboom Project, an NGO of high repute. The Litterboom Project receives donations for Izame, it pays the stipends to our team members, and provides our donors with a thank you letter and an 18A tax clearance certificate.
We hope to expand our operation to other river mouths and to provide work for more people living in poverty. In this way, we hope to build a cleaner and kinder South Africa.
The Team
Thandeka
“Ever since I started to work for Izame, I can provide for my family.”
Theresia
“This is my first job. It has made a difference to me and my three kids.”
Ronald
“I enjoy being with Izame. We have fun. I need this work and I am grateful for it.”
Team members receive an R250 stipend for a day’s work.
Safety gloves, gumboots, and collection bags are provided by Izama Zabantu.