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Introduction and Background Summary

Project Zion aims to holistically look at key issues such as homelessness, unemployment,
environmental issues and education.

The Bagerezi also known as the Dustbin Diggers and Trolley Surfers are groups of homeless
people/workers dispersed between the major metros in South Africa on unutilized plots of land or
landfills in order to be closer to their livelihoods in the recycling industry.

They are not only workers in the informal recycling sector, but they are also entrepreneurs who can
grow the economy through their efforts in the recycling industry and related sectors.

The overlapping nature of the issues alluded to above makes it possible for a multi-functional
approach through empowering the Bagerezi as a minority group within the bigger Centurion
community. They fulfil a crucial part in the local community through the services already rendered
such as recycling and could further improve through possible future services such as community
development and security.

The project can be undertaken to address these issues as part of the Nation Development Plan to
facilitate economic growth from the ground up and to contribute to the improvement of political and
economic stability.

Our primary goal with Project Zion is to provide a proposed solution for the social and economic
dilemma, i.e keep track of and, integrate homeless groups of people such as the Bagerezi back into
society, without draining an already stagnant economy. This can be achieved through innovative
ideas such as the development of the recycling industry.

The excerpt below, from Creamer Medias Engineering News, emphasizes the economic potential
mentioned above.

According to the Department of Environmental Studies South Africa generated waste with an
estimated total resource value of R25.2 billion for the year with 90% of all waste generated still sent to
landfills.

Based on the Departments own baseline figures for recycling, resources worth and estimated R8.2
billion were recovered from waste in 2011.

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Achieving the goal of a 20% reduction by weight of industrial waste and a 60% reduction by weight of
domestic waste to landfill by 2025, as outlined in the Department of Science and Technologys
(DSTs) Waste Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Roadmap, could provide an additional
R9.2-billion worth of resources to the South African economy.
(Burger, 2014)

Key considerations

Homeless groups, such as the Bagerezi (Dusting Diggers / Informal Recyclers), are generating
value for the local economy.

Through informal and unorganized trade in the recycling industry they create income which they
spend in the local economy, buying basic goods and commodities which also makes them
contributors to the national fiscus (Burger, 2014).

The Bagerezi could be a valuable human resource in the suburbs by providing a security service
while they operate as part of an organized group under the guidance of community CPF
initiatives.

Research on projects like this have shown positive community participation and interaction
between these communities and Government, lower collective stress levels, positive life skills
development, less crime and healthy living habits (Van Den Berg & Custers, 2010).

Further research indicates these types of projects can not only deal with problems associated with
vacant lots and urban blight, but it can in fact raise property value in the communities surrounding
these self-sustaining compounds (Been & Voicu, 2006) (Schukoske, 1997).

To highlight the fact that the Bagerezi, in their current state, are key contributors to pollution, but
given the opportunity for upliftment, they are also instrumental in reducing pollution on a bigger
scale.

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Why we are working on Project Zion

To address humanitarian issues

o Widespread ignorance amongst the public at large and suburban communities cause
undeserved suspicion of the homeless groups of workers.
o Unjust treatment because of suspicion leads to abuse of basic human rights
o Lack of access to health care facilities and basic amenities
o Discrimination against them for their standing in society as 2nd class citizens
To address the stigma attributed to the Bagerezi
o Petty theft in the community
o Burglary concern & informant concerns
o Undocumented persons concern
o Loitering concern
To address health and safety risks, both to themselves and to the bigger Centurion community
o Contagious diseases
o Vulnerable persons, children, women and elderly
o Pest infestations
o Road accidents
To combat generational and institutionalized poverty
o No access to institutions or programs to further develop their skills
o Lack of resources to meet basic living requirements
o Inability to have sufficient control over their lives
Negative environmental impact
o Unhealthy and unhygienic living and working conditions
Pollution of areas where sorting takes place
Pollution of water sources surrounding informal dwellings
Positive environmental impact
o Contribute to effective recycling resulting in a reduction of waste in landfills and a cleaner
South Africa

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The Solution (an overview)

The following are proposed solutions of Project Zion. Each solution will be elaborated on, in the next
section of this document.

Register, Identify and Document the Bagerezi.

Develop local sorting/housing/agriculture compounds.
Develop their aptitudes and interests for further employment opportunities in other sectors of the
economy.
Employ them (through Government) to develop vacant and underutilized land in suburban areas
and maintain sidewalks while doubling as patrol groups for the CPF.
Organizing the group into a cooperative to further its own business interests for self-sustainability
in the recycling and agricultural sectors; with support structures in place from Government to train
and further develop them in.
Equip them with the tools and skillset necessary to rise above generational and institutionalized
poverty.

Our Proposal
Step 1 Register, Identify and Document

Informal research conducted by interest groups (and individuals who interact with the Bagerezi
regularly) amongst various Bagarezi groups, suggest that they are mostly unaccounted citizens or
foreign nationals.

Conservative speculation on the actual number of people who make up this group puts their numbers
between 500 and 1000 individuals per 200 000 people in the suburbs. They consist of different
demographical and vulnerable groups such as children, women, the elderly and minority groups such
as foreign nationals in Centurion.

New generations are born into this group daily and they are being raised on social grants under
inhumane conditions due to neglect by not only historical Governments, but also society as a whole.

To holistically address this issue, and to fully understand the magnitude of the homeless issue
amongst the Bagerezi group, specific studies would be required to document the status of these
groups and their differences in regards with each other.

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This should be followed by the commissioning of a task team to address issues as identified during
the study and to action it as a matter of urgency if serious gains were to be made before the 2019
elections.

1. Identify Individuals and assist with outstanding issues with documentation from the
Department of Home Affairs through a dedicated task team from local Government that can
assist in obtaining such as birth certificates, identify documents and, assist to resolve
problems with immigration status and medical issues.

2. Document previous work related experience and create a database of people with skills who
could be further developed and utilized either through alternative employment possibilities or
educational programs.

As a solution, we propose that National Government make resources available to Local Government,
either through manpower of already employed public servants within local Government, or through
local contractors within reasonable cost to the tax payer.

Step 2 Implementing a Short-Term solution

To further address the issue of the homeless question, and at the same time addressing the issues
faced by the informal traders such as the Bagerezi, we propose that Local Government implement an
immediate plan which will address the short-term issues while preparing the plan for mid and long-
term solution.

1. Formalizing the Bagerezi

This can be done after the documentation process and the Bagerezi can now be identified as a
group of documented persons.

Part of the formalization would enable them to feel a sense of pride and belonging.

A simple short-term solution would be issuing of a uniform with safety gear:

Reflect vest with name badge and Bagerezi ID
Gloves
Boots
Two Way Radios

2. Health and Safety, Sanitation and Living conditions

Living conditions can be improved by means of:

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 Providing portable toilets in settlements as a temporary relief along with portable fresh
water storage tanks. Temporary housing facilities, in the form of movable containers,
outfitted with a solar panel to provide electricity, can also be provided.

Local Government and business already involved in recycling can coordinate efforts to
remove waste form these sites by incorporating these sites into the collection routes of
waste disposal vechicles. Recycled goods can be weighed and purchased from the
Bagerezi and removed from the various sites.

3. Social Services
Social services should be made available to the Bagerezi to assist with children being born into
these groups and to make day-care centers available for early development in the children, while
the parent(s) are out recycling. This will also assist with the long-term goal of reducing
generational poverty.

Step 3 Implementing a Mid and Long-term Solution

1. Adopting a new policy in regards to recycling from households and business in the community
Local Council can create incentives programmes for community residents and businesses to start
a recycling process at home and in the work place to effectively implement any long-term plans of
the overall project.

A communication strategy should support this drive to create awareness of the positive short-term
and long-term impact of the project among residents and local business.

2. Implementing the new policy

Policy implementation should include the issues of additional refuse bins to residential and
business premises, to facilitate recycling, in accordance with the main recycling categories:
Glass
Metals
Organics
Paper
Plastics
Textiles

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3. Identifying suitable spaces for Urban Sorting Compounds (USC)
Informal sorting areas created by the informal traders pose a health risk to the informal traders,
the community around them and the environment at large as water, ground and air pollution is
currently unchecked.

Underutilized or vacant land surrounding the Bagerezis current settlements should be identified
as potential space for USCs.

4. Development and Construction of Urban Sorting Compounds

The USCs should be safe spaces with sorting facilities. Different configuration setups might be
required per compound depending on their locations and the physical proximity of the facility to
residential areas, commercial areas or industrial areas.

These facilities should include ablution facilities, a soup kitchen and access to medical treatment
should injuries occur during daily sorting operations.

5. Identifying suitable spaces close to Urban Sorting Compounds for formal housing
Should space not be available for a USC at the current living location, a formal residential area
clot to USC is preferable as the Bagerezi cannot afford an alternative means of transport.

Bearing this in mind we propose that the USCs and the Housing Complexes be close to each
other, or even included in the same compound as the USC to save costs for Local Government
and the South African tax base at large.

We propose that Local Government also consider making available resources in the form of
manpower to oversee the operations of these compounds to maximize efficiency.

6. Tools and Skills Development and Implementation

Tools and equipment currently used for collecting and sorting recyclables must be standardized.
This can be achieved through direct funding from Government or through sponsorships from
major industry players such as Mondi.

Identified individuals with previous experience and skills in other trades, should be granted the
opportunity to further expand and develop their skills at the USCs.

By this we mean that should an individual have experience in masonry that he should be further
developed in this area, so that he is better equipped to find permanent employment, or at least
has the option to find a more fulfilling job.

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7. Developing a Plan for future sustainability through small scale urban organic farming of common
areas
Part of this development plan should include food security for this vulnerable group, which can be
expanded to supply, not only the group itself through the soup kitchens at the USCs, but also
other vulnerable groups.

The Bagerezi as a group could be employed to maintain sidewalks and to turn vacant and
underutilized plots of lands into a source of income by planting vegetables and fruits in suburban
areas where space is available.

In North America and the UK spaces known as The Commons, were developed successfully to
provide for struggling communities since the recession of 2007.

Any surplus vegetables/fruits can be sold at a profit and the profits made can be contributed
towards this project or diverted towards schools, correctional facilities, old age homes and feeding
schemes.

Allowing for such development, the project would become the vehicle to address the bigger
agenda to reach International climate accords and treaties as entered into by the South African
Government.

Studies such as the Food for Thought: The Social and Impact of Community Gardens in the
Greater Cleaveland Areas have shown that community gardens can be functional money-savers
and food producers, spaces for exercise and fresh air and centers of socializing.

8. Investigating the benefits of bicycle / trolley lanes

The possibility of duel-purpose bicycle / trolley lanes must also be considered in areas which
would allow for it. Not only does it give an added benefit to fitness enthusiasts, but it can also
serve as a designated lane in which the Bagerezi can operate standardized trolleys.

This option will greatly reduce accident risks to motors and Bagerezi, and it will also improve
mobility and effectiveness of the Bagerezi collective in their day to day operations.

9. Implementation of the Pilot Project

Local Government is the main key player in adopting and sponsoring the initial pilot project.

Key personnel to be identified and appointed by Government:

Project Director Stefan van der Westhuizen

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 Project Administrator Samara Reyneke
Facilities Supervisor - Bagerezi
Logistics Supervisor - Bagerezi
Agricultural Supervisor Bagerezi
Operational Supervisor Bagerezi

Funding for this project and the personnel can be undertaken by Government and corporate business
with interest in the recycling industry.

Project Details
Project Location: Mushroomville, Centurion
Project Area: Vacant land Centurion consisting of 3 areas separated by the Hennops River
Housing Compound: Housing for Bagerezi Community, Community Soup Kitchen, Organic
Community Market
Sorting and Collection Depot: Sorting and Collection point of Recyclable goods
Organic Food Gardens: Urban Organic Food Farms Project.

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General Statistics Mushroomville
Stats from survey conducted July 2017

SPEAK ENGLISH READ AND WRITE ENG

Yes No Yes No

36% 38%

64% 62%

OTHER SPOKEN LANGUAGES

Zulu
Xhosa
Venda
Tswana
Tsonga
Swathi
Sotho
Sepedi
Portuguese
Ndebele
Afrikaans

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

EDUCATION
Matric
Grade 11
Grade 10
Grade 9
Grade 8
Grade 7
Grade 6
Grade 5
Grade 4
None

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

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 NATIONALITY YEARS AS BAGEREZI
South Africa Lesotho Less than 5 years 6-10
Zimbabwe Mozambique 11-15 16-20
More than 20 years
2%
3%
2%
37% 20%
36%

58%
24%
18%

AGE GROUPS
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
18-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 Older than 55

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References

Been, V., & Voicu, I. (2006). The Effect of Community Gardens on Neighboring Property Values. New
York: New York University Law and Economics Working Papers. Retrieved from
https://nccommunitygardens.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-
content/uploads/2014/02/researchBeenVoicuEffectof-CG-of-Property-Value.pdf?fwd=no
Burger, S. (2014, November 14). South Africa begins waking up to the economic potential of waste
recycling. Retrieved from Engineering News: http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/south-
africa-begins-waking-up-to-the-economic-potential-of-waste-recycling-2014-11-
13/rep_id:4136
Schukoske, J. E. (1997). Community Development Through Gardening. Retrieved from
https://nccommunitygardens.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/research-
schukoskeStateLocalPolicies.pdf?fwd=no
Van Den Berg, A. E., & Custers, M. H. (2010, June 3). Gardening Promotes Neuroendocrine and
Affective Restoration from Stress. Retrieved from Sage Journals:
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1359105310365577

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