{"product_id":"naphtan-48-recycler","title":"Naphtan, 48 - Recycler","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003e“I live in the township, here in Jozi. I’ve been pushing my wheelbarrow around the city for more than 15 years now. I collect mostly plastic and cardboard to make my money. I work every single day, including weekends.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003eI’m originally from Louis Trichardt. I had to leave school in Grade 10 because the costs of food, uniforms, and school fees were too much. From when I was a young boy I had to do the cooking for my family. I would collect firewood and sell it in the village using donkeys that my parents hired. I never owned a pair of shoes growing up\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003eMy life has always been difficult, but you will never see me without a smile on my face. I came here to Jozi in 2005. I was hoping for a better life. My first job was in a plastic injection molding factory. There I was working polishing molds, but the job didn’t last.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003eI started working as a part-time painter and waterproofer. There was no stable income and I couldn’t support my family. That is why I am now a bagarezi. I can earn enough doing this. I rent an mkhukhu in the township for R450 a month. It is a struggle to pay rent sometimes. My landlords will lock me out if I don’t manage to get the money. They are useless, these guys. They don’t work. They use our rent money to drink. They sit and drink all day.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003eWhen my wheelbarrow is full I can earn roughly R80 a day. R30 is for food, and the rest is for rent. If I earn extra money I will sometimes buy the old, expired snacks and food to re-sell. On weekends, because many businesses are closed, I can struggle to make enough money and often I don’t eat so that my children can. I leave home every day at 05h30 because it’s a 3km walk to get here to my area where I fetch recycling. In difficult times, especially during Covid, I must start eating food I find in bins if it’s not rotten. I have a strong stomach, so I can eat most things. If I find something that is still good, still fresh, I will take it home for my children.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003eMy biggest struggle is that I’m lonely. I don’t have friends. It’s just me. People treat me as less than human. They call me ‘Mogharezi.’ This name is for someone who is scratching for food in dustbins — even my children don’t use my real name. This breaks my heart. But I remain positive. I must focus on the good I have experienced from people in my community. Sometimes strangers help me to push my wheelbarrow or give me bread or pap when I don’t have food. I am most proud that my children are getting an education — something I never had.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003eMy dream is to one day own a spaza shop. If I have some extra money I will sometimes buy and sell snacks, tissues, cold drinks, tomatoes and onions. When I see people who are struggling and have no money to buy my things, I will give them no charge because I know what it’s like to have nothing and people have helped me before.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA;\"\u003eYou see, this ear, it’s always leaking. I have a bad infection. It’s very sore when I lie down. There’s so much pain that I can’t lie down, I can’t sleep. People say I am stinking so much they stay away from me. My big problem is I don’t have enough money to go to Helen Joseph Hospital to fix my ear. Luckily, a kind lady paid for me to get my ear fixed at the hospital. I’m so happy now. The pain is almost gone now. God bless that lady. I’ve seen that most people don’t help each other. They only care for themselves. Not many people will ever help, but I rather remember the people who have helped me. Like that lady. That makes me smile. Ubuntu is still real for me.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Warren Grace Photography","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51108896178472,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0890\/5605\/1496\/files\/Naphtan_03f49df0-59bd-47eb-b5d4-b0de02c81de8.jpg?v=1764234583","url":"https:\/\/warrengracephotography.com\/products\/naphtan-48-recycler","provider":"Warren Grace Photography","version":"1.0","type":"link"}