Reclaimers have been profoundly affected by COVID-19 and the government’s COVID-19 response. Reclaimers have been prevented from working since the beginning of the lockdown on March 26, 2020.

Initially, reclaimers were not eligible to receive any government support. As we earn our income on a daily basis, within days we had no money for food. Working with residents who came together to form the ARO Solidarity Group, we raised over R250,000 to purchase food and sanitation supplies for reclaimers via a Back-a-Buddy fundraising campaign and direct donations.

We have developed a distribution system that we are using to distribute food and essentials purchased by ARO, and to assist the national Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the City of Johannesburg, and Coca Cola South Africa to distribute their food donations.

Food distribution is accompanied by education for reclaimers on how to protect themselves against COVID-19. ARO to date has distributed food to over 2000 Reclaimers and their families. We have also partnered with Johannesburg’s Waste management entity PikitiUp to distribute food to as many Reclaimers as possible in the City.

We are also responding to Reclaimers in other cities around the province of Gauteng and are also getting calls for assistance from many others across the country. Reclaimers are also preparing information packs for residents on keeping everyone safe once the lockdown is lifted and