Although South Africa is one of the largest countries facing high crime and unemployment rate, 70 year old Flora Nhlile of Soshanguve Block H, said for as long as she still has eyes legs and hands, her family will never go hungry.
Ms Nhile has been running a recycling (cash for scrap) business for the past 32 years and with the little she got she managed to secure a good future for her two children. She collects plastics, cans, boxes and bottles in exchange for money.
“This business helps me so such, I managed to take both my children to college and my oldest daughter is now a qualified teacher.” She said.
In 1986 collecting and selling recycled items was not that popular, not many people were knowledgeable about the money that came with this business.
“It wasn’t simple starting this, I would walk for hours trying to collect as much bottles just so I could sell to make enough money to put food on the table, I was made ridiculed and called names such as mama we doti (mother of rubbish).
“However that never stopped me from engaging in the recycling business, In fact, many people have joined this business to a point where it is saturated and we do not make
enough money anymore.
“We thank God for this new opportunity that the Waste Bureau Cycling department has now opened a new damaged car tire selling platform, “she said.
The 70 year old said because her age is catching up with her, she now has four employees from the Soshanguve community under her.
“People often come here to ask for R2, I always tell them that they have hands, brains, eyes and legs, they are able to go out and find something that will work out for them and make a good business opportunity “ she said.
