Episode one of The Hope Dealers shines a light on a container shop in Alexandra serving its community, employing women, and saving the planet!
Johannesburg, South Africa (05 August 2026) – Friends, the first episode is out!
A new series created by our good friend and veteran journalist Mandy Wiener is shining a light on the South Africans who are building, serving and improving their communities, making the country a better place. It’s aptly called ‘The Hope Dealers’.
The first episode in the ten-part series was released today. In it, Mandy takes to the streets of Alexandra where she meets the team behind Gcwalisa, a container shop doing good for the community and the planet.
Gcwalisa, which means ‘refill’ in isiZulu, was born during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. As families faced shrinking budgets and many could only afford enough food for a day at a time, founder Miles Khubeka began looking at a different way of shopping.
Instead of forcing customers to buy pre-packaged products in fixed sizes, Gcwalisa allows people to buy staple household goods in the exact quantities they can afford. Household staples like cooking oil, rice, maize meal and cleaning products are stocked on the shelves. Customers visit the shop to restock on these essentials by refilling their containers or using reusable ones provided by the shop.
Buying products directly from manufacturers also helps keep prices lower, making everything a little more affordable for the community.
The refill model helps tackle the real challenge of plastic waste faced by many informal communities. The community shop encourages customers to return and reuse containers, which reduces unnecessary packaging and makes it easier for households to keep costs down. This doesn’t only serve the community, but the planet too.
The concept earned national recognition in 2021 when Miles became a finalist in the SAB Foundation Social Innovation and Disability Awards. He went on to win R500,000 to grow the business, along with mentorship to help strengthen and expand the model.
Since then, Gcwalisa has grown in leaps and bounds – the model works because the community has embraced it! Gcwalisa has created local jobs for women and attracted support from organisations working to promote reuse and circular packaging. The initiative has already recorded thousands of refill and return transactions!
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Herman High Learners Help Turn Hermanus Pink for Pauline!Beyond bringing household essentials to the community at more affordable quantities and prices, the container shop also sells electricity, provides free internet access for the community and uses solar power to help supply nearby homes while keeping traffic lights operating! Together with the jobs created at the shop’s two outlets, it has become such a valuable community hub in Alexandra.
Gcwalisa is the first of ten Johannesburg stories featured in The Hope Dealers, each introducing someone working to improve their community in practical, meaningful ways. If you’ve been looking for more reminders that good people are making a difference across South Africa, this is a very good place to start!
Watch the first episode of The Hope Dealers below and meet the people behind one of Alexandra’s most inspiring community initiatives. New episode next week!
You can follow Mandy’s journey via her social media. Check out her Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X for more information.
The series will also be available on Primedia+, EWN and across Primedia and Mandy’s social media platforms. The audio interviews will also be released as podcasts and broadcast on The Midday Report.
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