Postcard From South Africa - Zoe Prinsloo & Save a Fishie
- Zoe Prinsloo
- Sep 19
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 22
Yesterday, my mom and I had the absolute pleasure of being part of the King’s Baton Relay Clean-up event in KwaZulu-Natal! I’m beyond proud that Save a Fishie was chosen as a Country Partner by the Royal Commonwealth Society for the clean-up segment of this iconic relay. It was a day that celebrated action, connection, and the power of communities coming together for our planet.
The clean-up took place just outside of Durban along the stunning Msunduzi River, in the Nkanyezini and Imboyi areas near Pietermaritzburg. After inspiring words from several dignitaries, the event began with a truly unforgettable moment – the beautifully decorated Baton being passed from kayak to kayak in a symbolic river relay. Watching the Baton glide across the water felt like witnessing a promise of hope and unity for our shared environment.
Then came MY favourite part – the clean-up! We were joined by learners from three nearby schools, municipal workers, athletes, local fire & rescue members, and so many passionate volunteers. My mom and I loved meeting everyone, and hearing enthusiastic shouts of “Fishie-Fishie!” throughout the day had us grinning from ear to ear!
Together, we collected an incredible 791 kilograms of waste – a reminder of both the scale of the problem and the impact we can have when we work together. Every bottle, bag, and scrap removed is one less piece of plastic threatening our rivers, wildlife, and oceans.
People often forget that all rivers lead to the ocean. Whatever enters a river – whether it’s plastic, chemicals, or other waste – will eventually make its way to the sea. By cleaning the Msunduzi River, we’re not only protecting local communities and ecosystems, but also safeguarding the health of our oceans. Every clean river means a cleaner coastline and a healthier planet for us all.
One of the most powerful parts of the day was seeing so many young learners rolling up their sleeves to help. Education is key to protecting our environment, and teaching kids about pollution, conservation, and sustainability from an early age creates lifelong habits of care and responsibility. Watching their excitement as they learned about the connection between rivers and oceans filled me with hope - these are the future leaders, activists, and changemakers who will carry the mission forward.
For those who don't know us. Save a Fishie is the non-profit I founded in Cape Town when I was just 16 years old. What began as a small passion project to protect marine life has grown into a movement. To date, we’ve hosted over 450 clean-ups and collected nearly 50 tons of litter from beaches, rivers, and waterways.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this event possible – from Keiran Healy at the Royal Commonwealth Society, who first reached out, to the wonderful team of organizers, volunteers, and dignitaries who rolled up their sleeves alongside us. Together, we proved that when communities unite, meaningful change is not only possible, it’s inevitable.
The Baton now travels on to Botswana for the next leg of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign. Wishing them a hugely successful clean-up as the journey continues.
Here’s to cleaner rivers, cleaner oceans, and a brighter future for every “Fishie” out there! 💙🐟
Zoe Prinsloo
Founder & CEO
Save a Fishie NPC
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
The Royal Commonwealth Society’s Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign will prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways.
The campaign will combine education and local action to encourage people to reduce their plastic waste, highlight alternatives, and reduce pollution across the Commonwealth.
For the action component of the campaign, the Royal Commonwealth Society has partnered with Commonwealth Sport to deliver the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign as a core component of The King’s Baton Relay. This newly envisioned King’s Baton Relay will focus on sustainability and environmentalism and was launched by His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day 2025, beginning a 500-day journey to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July 2026.
Journeying through every Commonwealth nation and territory, this partnership will bring together young people, athletes, conservation groups, and the local community for a week of activities, including a plastic clean-up.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.