Because picking up even ONE piece of plastic can make a difference, the Save a Fishie team has been working tirelessly to clean and restore the eyesore that is Macassar Beach.
Cape Town, South Africa (27 January 2026) – Small, consistent efforts often yield the greatest impact. Last Friday, well before sunrise, the Save a Fishie team was already up and doing what they do best: tackling the litter that washes up on Cape Town’s beaches.
Led by dedicated environmental activist Zoë Prinsloo, the team and her helpers hit the road by 4 am, driving in convoy toward the heavily polluted shoreline of Macassar Beach for a second morning clean-up.
“We were once again blessed with the most incredible sunrise over this beautiful place… even though the litter was impossible to ignore,” Zoë said.
Upon arrival, Zoë and her mother immediately got stuck in, working their well-practised litter-collecting system. From tiny objects like lollipop sticks and bottle tops, to bigger items like plastic bottles and takeaway containers, the mom-daughter duo collected anything and everything they could.
Five hours later, they managed to collect a total of 164kg of litter!
“We also inspected the stormwater outlet pipe, one of the main sources of pollution on this beach, and we are actively engaging with the City of Cape Town to find a workable, long-term solution. Because stopping the litter at its source is just as important as cleaning up what’s already there. And we are fully committed to seeing this through,” a determined Zoë said.
Save a Fishie’s approach is focused on stopping litter at the source, cleaning what’s already there and educating the public about the importance of environmental conservation on our shores.
“We will continue with our regular, smaller cleanups, but we will also be rolling out larger community cleanups so that residents can be part of restoring this beach. We also have a very exciting education project coming soon – aimed at teaching our youth (and through them, their families) how pollution travels from our streets, through stormwater drains, and straight into our ocean.”
The mission may be huge, but Zoë emphasises that while their clean-ups may be small and may even seem pointless, they are never futile. They raise awareness. They inform the uninformed. They educate. And they inspire.
Sources: Save a Fishie
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:
Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 