Hlanzekile River and Ocean Cleaning has rapidly become one of South Africa’s most compelling environmental change-makers, and its selection as a finalist in the Best Green Impact Initiative category of the 2026 CSI Legacy Awards recognises the organisation’s unique blend of ecological restoration, circular-economy innovation, and community empowerment. Behind this growing force is its founder and Director, a leader whose career can be defined in three words: leadership, innovation, and impact. His experience as an Area Manager and later Head of Operations at Isiphetho Cleaning and Catering Services sharpened his understanding of what purposeful leadership looks like. Yet it was the simple, daily sight of a piece of waste stuck under a branch in the Braamfontein Spruit River that shifted his path entirely. That recurring reminder of environmental neglect inspired him to take action, ultimately giving rise to Hlanzekile River and Ocean Cleaning.
Founded in response to the pollution choking the Braamfontein Spruit, Hlanzekile’s mission is rooted in a determination to restore South Africa’s rivers while empowering the communities living alongside them. The organisation’s work extends across Johannesburg, particularly in Soweto and Bryanston, where its clean-up operations and educational programmes have brought thousands of residents into the environmental movement. Since 2023, Hlanzekile has removed more than 20,000 kilograms of waste from waterways, restoring natural habitats, improving water safety, and instilling a sense of environmental accountability among young people and adults alike.
The initiative that Hlanzekile has entered into the 2026 CSI Legacy Awards — the Hlanzekile River and Ocean Cleaning Programme — exemplifies the powerful intersection between environmental action and socio-economic upliftment. At its heart, the programme removes tonnes of plastic from polluted rivers across Gauteng, preventing further ecological damage and minimising carbon emissions linked to waste breakdown. However, its impact extends far beyond collection. The programme’s innovation lies in its integrated upcycling model: plastic waste collected from rivers is transformed at a Soweto-based workshop into eco-friendly pens. This single process creates local employment, develops youth skills, and feeds a circular economy that benefits both people and planet.
In communities where unemployment is high, the programme offers young people practical skills, mentorship, and income-generating opportunities. The workshop serves not only as a production space but as a learning environment where environmental consciousness, creativity, and entrepreneurship thrive side by side. Through these efforts, Hlanzekile aligns its work with Sustainable Development Goals 6, 8, 12, 13, and 14, addressing clean water, decent work, responsible production, climate action, and life below water.
The journey has been marked by powerful milestones. Collecting over 1,000 kilograms of waste in a single day demonstrated the strength of collective action. The installation of a No Dumping sign in a major hotspot significantly reduced illegal waste disposal, showing how visible accountability can influence behaviour. A festive-season competition in Soweto encouraged children to collect recyclable waste, with stationery vouchers awarded to the top collector — a moment that blended environmental education with tangible community reward. Each milestone reflects the organisation’s ethos: empowering communities to take part in building a cleaner, safer, more sustainable South Africa.
The founder’s passion is fuelled by a belief that meaningful change begins with personal initiative. His leadership aims to build purpose-driven teams, empower local communities, and create employment through environmentally conscious solutions. Under his guidance, Hlanzekile has grown into a movement that challenges corporates to take responsibility while inspiring young people to become custodians of their natural environment.
Being named a finalist for the 2026 CSI Legacy Awards is both an honour and an affirmation. For Hlanzekile, it acknowledges the courage to start something new, the resilience to grow without compromise, and the commitment to restoring ecosystems while uplifting communities. For the founder, it is motivation to continue innovating, expanding, and lighting the path for a cleaner, more hopeful future. The recognition reinforces that Hlanzekile is not only cleaning rivers — it is reshaping attitudes, inspiring collective ownership, and leaving a legacy of environmental and social impact that will endure for generations.”
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