Amidst the lively hustle of Durban’s CBD, where the city pulses with daily activity, one woman stands as a beacon of resilience, strength, and environmental stewardship and that is none other than Maria Ntebaleng Vilakazi, affectionately known as Durban’s “Queen of Cardboard.” At 63, Maria (who makes no mention of immediate retirement plans) tirelessly maneuvers through the city with her newly refurbished trolley, revamped with the help of Asiye eTafuleni (AeT) a testament to both her enduring spirit and the transformative power of community partnerships.
Maria’s journey into the world of recycling began nearly three decades ago, a path forged out of necessity and vision. Formerly employed as a cleaner at St. Augustine Hospital, she observed an emerging demand for recyclers within Durban’s urban landscape. Recognizing the potential not just to earn a better income but to contribute meaningfully to environmental sustainability, Maria embraced the recycler’s trade, leaving behind her cleaning job to embark on a vocation that would define her life and legacy.
Her connection with AeT, particularly through Patrick Ndlovu whom she met in 2009, has become a pivotal chapter in her story. Through this partnership, Maria has engaged in numerous projects that highlight the critical role of recyclers in urban ecosystems. Her work which transcends the streets of Durban, has taken her to international platforms like Bogota Colombia, and Sao Paulo Brazil, where she educated audiences on sustainable recycling practices and the vital role of waste pickers in alleviating unemployment and promoting environmental justice.
Maria’s personal narrative is intertwined with profound loss and remarkable resilience. She has faced the unimaginable grief of burying five of her six children between 2010 and 2013. Despite these heart-wrenching tragedies, she remained the unwavering cornerstone for her family, fully adopting and caring for her three grandchildren after the passing of their mother in 2013. Through her recycling work alone, Maria has provided for her family, recently celebrating the milestone of her eldest grandchild completing her matric certificate.
During our conversation, we digress a bit and discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic presented another formidable challenge, and its legacy on the waste-picking industry. She mentions how what followed after the 26th of March 2020 was a series of chaotic and anxiety-imposing events. Maria recounts the severe disruptions faced by recyclers during the lockdowns, with law enforcement imposing strict restrictions on their operations. The period was marked by loss, not only of income, friends, and colleagues but also her near-fatal battle with the virus. Yet, it was the thought of her grandchildren’s dependence on her that fueled her recovery. In a story that encapsulates her defiant spirit, Maria humorously recalls leaving home in the morning and telling her grandchildren who are highly protective of her that she was merely going for a walk, only to return to her recycling work—proving that her passion and purpose could not be confined.
As one of the key KZN conveners of groundWork, a non-profit environmental justice organization working primarily in South Africa and lead convener for the South African Waste Pickers Association (SAWPA) in KwaZulu-Natal which is an organization of between 4000 to 6000 registered waste pickers from all nine provinces of South Africa. Maria continues to advocate for the rights and recognition of waste pickers. She has been instrumental in recruiting numerous individuals, particularly unemployed youth, into the recycling industry, offering them a pathway to livelihood. She passionately speaks about how recycling can alleviate unemployment, a message particularly poignant in South Africa’s current economic climate with an unemployment rate of 32.1% as of the third quarter of 2024.
Maria attributes her robust health and vitality to the physical demands of her work, which she believes keeps her energized and resilient. “As you can see, I’m still very active and able to work. I still carry as many loads as I did when I was younger. If it wasn’t for this job, I might have succumbed to illnesses of old age like many of my peers,” she proudly states.
Maria’s story is not just one of personal triumph but a powerful testament to the broader narrative of recyclers who form the backbone of urban sustainability. Her refurbished trolley, courtesy of AeT, symbolizes more than a tool of trade—it is an emblem of renewal, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of purpose. In Maria, Durban has not just a recycler but a pioneer, educator, and enduring symbol of hope.
