Talking Point – Pollution, Clean-ups and the Environment

Any day you walk through a wetland, you are likely to see a dog owner picking up after their pet, placing the waste in a bag and disposing of it responsibly. On other days, you will see something even more encouraging. People picking up after other dog owners.

I have also seen an elderly lady walking along the beach carrying a plastic bag, carefully collecting tiny pieces of plastic washed ashore. She always has a smile on her face. She never seems to regard it as a chore. It is simply something worthwhile to do.

Then there are people who notice litter in the street, pick it up and carry it until they find a rubbish bin. These small acts happen every day, often unnoticed.

There is something quietly uplifting about watching people who care for the environment. They arrive without fanfare, carrying nothing more than a small bag and a willingness to serve. They move slowly through wetlands, beaches and parks, gathering what others have discarded. There is almost a contemplative quality to their work. They are not seeking applause or recognition. In their own quiet way, they are helping to heal the landscape, one small act of kindness at a time.

Earlier this year, I met representatives of the Save a Fishie campaign. Their volunteers are making a determined effort to remove plastic and other pollution from South Africa’s beaches, rivers and estuaries. Their Coast 2 Coast 2026 campaign has already removed more than 16 tonnes of litter and has expanded beyond the coastline to include inland communities and river systems.

The point is that, across South Africa, ordinary people are quietly cleaning beaches, wetlands, rivers, parks and neighbourhoods. They remove not only their own litter but also the litter left behind by others.

Many of these people receive no reward whatsoever.

They are not the municipal cleaning teams who work so hard every day. In Cape Town, for example, the City deserves credit for maintaining many public spaces, and the workers who keep our streets, parks and beaches clean perform an invaluable service.

The people I am talking about are volunteers.

They simply want to live in a cleaner environment. They understand that pollution—whether it is discarded plastic, illegal dumping or dog faeces—damages our environment and diminishes everyone’s quality of life.

Many also devote their time to removing invasive alien plants that threaten indigenous vegetation. Throughout the Western Cape, volunteer groups spend weekends clearing alien species to help restore natural ecosystems. It is hard, dirty work, but they do it willingly because they care about the future of our natural heritage.

Across the country, these efforts are becoming increasingly organised. Community groups, schools, conservation organisations and NGOs regularly hold beach, river and neighbourhood clean-ups. WESSA branches continue to organise conservation projects, while organisations around False Bay recently joined together for World Ocean Day to clean beaches and educate the public about protecting marine life.

Government is also playing a role. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has launched programmes aimed at clearing thousands of illegal dumping hotspots while encouraging municipalities to create cleaner, greener public spaces. At the same time, new waste management policies are placing greater responsibility on producers to reduce packaging waste and improve recycling.

Yet perhaps the greatest contribution still comes from ordinary citizens.

They do not wait for World Environment Day.

They do not wait for National Clean-up Week.

They simply bend down, pick something up and place it where it belongs.

One piece of litter may seem insignificant. But multiplied by thousands of caring South Africans every single day, it becomes a remarkable contribution to the country.

Today, rather than criticising those who throw rubbish out of car windows or leave plastic on our beaches, let us celebrate the people who quietly make South Africa a cleaner, healthier and more beautiful place.

They remind us that caring for the environment is not the responsibility of governments alone.

It belongs to all of us.

And every piece of litter picked up is a small act of hope.

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