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Community Upliftment Programme
Community Waste Removal
Pretoria East, South Africa
From litter to livelihood — one kilometre at a time.
What began as a simple response to littering in Pretoria has grown into a story of income, dignity, and collective care. It’s a testament to the transformative power of communities empowered to tackle their own challenges and build brighter futures — earning wages that support their families along the way.
The challenge
Pretoria East faces a growing waste crisis — littering, illegal dumping, and low recycling rates are taking a visible toll on public spaces and the environment. At the same time, unemployment among women and youth is rising.
This highlights the urgent need for practical, community-driven solutions that employ local residents, restore dignity through meaningful work, and help transform the streets they live and move through every day.
Our response
We enlisted unemployed mothers from the Nellmapius community, providing them with meaningful work and a fair, regular income. Multiple times each week, these dedicated teams clean pre-planned routes, supported by a dedicated supervisor. Every shift ensures participants fresh water, and all necessary cleaning equipment. Our approach is more than just street cleaning, it's a practical, replicable and deeply community-rooted solution that fosters a healthier, more empowered environment for all.
24
months of consistent operations.
180+
workdays completed.
540+
km of roads cleaned.
A steady and regular income stream created for all participants.
What's next?
As our impact grows, so does our strategic vision: beyond anti-littering efforts and dignified work opportunities, we are introducing new initiatives to support healthier communities across the country. We’re just getting started.
“I am very happy to be a part of the DT Foundation and it has helped me to understand, work and communicate with people better.”
Sipho Nhlabathi
DT Foundation Project Custodian
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