For 16 years, Zola Tyali (55) from Vlakfontein has walked miles daily, pushing his trolley to earn a living. While others see filth, he sees opportunity-sorting through discarded boxes, bottles and other recyclables to make a living.
Tyali told GLOBE POST: “I have been doing this for a long time. Through recycling, I raised my children-three have completed matric and my last-born is now in Grade 12. The unemployment rate is high in this country and instead of stressing about finding a job, I created my own.”
Tyali’s work is not easy. His day starts early as he moves from one dumpsite to another, collecting recyclables. His goal? To fill as many bins as possible. “A full bin of boxes gives me R1 800, so I push myself to collect more. These bins are huge and it takes a lot of effort,” he explains.
Despite the stigma around waste picking, he sees dignity in his work. “Some people sit at home complaining about job shortages, but there are ways to make money. It may not be big money, but at least I can put bread on the table. Recycling may be dirty and tiring, but it pays,” he shared.
His message to others struggling with unemployment is simple: “Commit yourself, be patient.and don’t be ashamed of hard work. There is money in what people throw away.”
Tyali’s journey is proof that resilience and determination can turn trash into treasure.
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