They call themselves the Hangklip Hardcore Hackers… and they’re proving that hope, purpose and a good coffee break can bring people together in extraordinary ways.
Western Cape, South Africa (13 July 2025) – Tucked between rugged mountains and wild coastline, in a small town you might miss if you blink too long, there’s a group of people quietly doing something extraordinary. They’re not chasing headlines. They’re not looking for fame. They’re just armed with saws, loppers, gloves… and a whole lot of heart.
Welcome to Pringle Bay, where a group of locals calling themselves the Hangklip Hardcore Hackers have taken conservation and community into their own hands.
Every week, come rain or shine, this crew of volunteers heads out into the wild, removing invasive alien vegetation from the Kogelberg Biosphere area. Their goal is simple: To protect and restore the region’s extraordinary fynbos, the most species-diverse plant group in the world.
But what started as a small environmental initiative has grown into something far more meaningful.
“It’s not just about the plants,” James Burns, one of the regular volunteers, explained to Good Things Guy. “The social aspect and community spirit shown by the members of our group is just as inspirational.”
What began over 70 years ago with a handful of retirees has now blossomed into a group of around 40 regulars, sometimes even 50 on a good day. The average age sits at around 65, with their oldest member pushing 85 but don’t let that fool you. These are no ordinary pensioners. These are passionate, purpose-driven people who are out there doing the work. Together.
Doctors, psychologists, academics and former business leaders. All from different walks of life. But when they put on their (now iconic) orange Jonsson Workwear overalls, none of that matters. There’s no hierarchy. No ego. Just a shared commitment to the land and to each other.
“Each person does what they feel comfortable with, and there’s no pressure or competition,” James says. “We all have a common goal… and this group of volunteers works together as a unit without fracturing, which is truly remarkable given its size.”
It’s hard not to be inspired by that kind of unity.
And they’ve created more than just a working group. They’ve built a kind of family. One that laughs together over coffee breaks, supports each other through life’s quieter moments, and celebrates even the smallest victories, like clearing a particularly dense patch of Port Jackson or seeing a once-strangled patch of fynbos bloom again.
“Many of the hackers are widows, widowers, or single people,” James explains. “So this interaction is a highlight for many lonely souls. Better than therapy.”
With support from the Kogelberg branch of the Botanical Society of South Africa (BotSoc), which covers chainsaw fuel, equipment maintenance and refreshments, and generous landowners who back their work, the Hangklip Hardcore Hackers are proving that conservation doesn’t have to be complex; it just needs commitment.
It’s community work in the purest sense. The kind that reminds us that we’re stronger when we show up for each other. That purpose doesn’t fade with age. And that protecting the natural world is something all of us can be part of, one hack at a time.
So next time you’re driving through Pringle Bay, keep an eye out for the bright orange overalls scattered in the veld.
That’s not just a group of volunteers. That’s something quietly powerful. That’s the Hangklip Hardcore Hackers. And they’re changing their corner of the world. Together.
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I loved reading about the Hangklip Hackers. Well done to you all! What is being achieved is just so typical of the TRUE SOUTH AFRICAN spirit. We have a similar objective in the Northern Suburbs Green Spaces project here in Johannesburg, looking after four nominated parks, one park at a time, one park per month.