In the heart of Pietermaritzburg, on the busy and often overlooked New England Landfill Site, works 38-year-old Andile Zondi—a single father whose determination has turned hardship into hope.  Living in Tamboville with his two daughters, Andile spends his days collecting copper, brass, aluminium and tins. It’s tough work, but it’s work that has allowed him to pay school fees, put food on the table, and give his girls the stability they deserve.

Every morning begins the same.

At 4am, Andile wakes up, prepares breakfast, gets his daughters ready for school, and only then makes his way to the landfill site.  His journey into waste picking began nine years ago, after he lost his job as a company driver and could not secure new employment.  What started as a desperate attempt to survive soon became his daily mission.

“When I first started, it was not a walk in the park,” he recalls.

He had to learn quickly—how to tell different metals apart, where to find the highest-value items, and how to stretch every rand.  Copper alone earned him just R30 per kilogram, barely enough to make a dent in household needs. But Andile refused to give up. He rolled up his sleeves, learned the trade, and diversified what he collected.  Brass, tin, aluminium—anything that could bring in income became part of his daily hustle.

Over the years, the number of waste pickers at the landfill has grown to hundreds, but Andile remains committed and grounded.  He knows why he is there.

“I had no choice but to be responsible as a father,” he says. “If you are a parent, you cannot be picky about any job. I learnt that the hard way.”

Despite the challenges, Andile has made peace with his work. He pushes through long days with one vision in mind: giving his daughters the future he never had.  His monthly income—between R1,400 and R2,000—is modest, especially since the children’s social grants go to their mother, who does not live with them. Still, Andile saves whatever he can.

“My children have dreams,” he says proudly. “I want to see them prosper and reach tertiary level. I am already saving for my daughters’ higher education.”

Final Thoughts

Andile Zondi’s story is more than a tale of survival—it’s a powerful reminder that dignity is not defined by the job you do, but by the heart you bring to it.  He proves that determination, love, and responsibility can turn even the harshest circumstances into a path forward.  His journey inspires us to rethink how we view waste pickers, and to honour the strength it takes to build a future from the ground up—literally.

Andile shows us that no matter how difficult life becomes, resilience can rewrite the story.