Zoë Prinsloo leads coast-to-coast beach clean-up campaign

Environmental non-profit Save a Fishie has completed a seven-week national beach clean-up campaign covering South Africa’s entire coastline.

A three-woman team traveled across seven provinces and the entire length of South Africa’s coastline to tackle plastic pollution and raise awareness around environmental conservation during the Coast 2 Coast National Beach Clean-Up Campaign..

The campaign was spearheaded by 23-year-old environmental activist, Save a Fishie founder, and Richwood resident, Zoë Prinsloo. 

Already a recipient of the Cape Town Mayor’s Medal for Conservation and a Guinness World Record holder for the longest beach clean-up (27 hours non-stop), Ms Prinsloo recently represented South Africa as a panelist at the 10th Our Ocean Conference in South Korea. 

To date, she has organised more than 400 beach clean-ups — all before the age of 24.

Joining Ms Prinsloo on this national mission were her mother and operations manager, Tanya Prinsloo, and her younger sister, Jamie. 

Together, the trio formed an all-female team that engaged with schools, community organisations, and businesses across the country. 

Their route stretched from Cape Town to Port Nolloth, through Gauteng’s townships of Soweto and Alexandra, and along the East Coast from Richards Bay back to Cape Town.

Ms Prinsloo said the initial goal of the Coast 2 Coast campaign was to remove seven tons of litter from beaches and urban areas — a target that was not only met but exceeded, thanks to the support of local volunteers, schools, and corporate partners who joined forces at every stop.

“This journey was about so much more than just collecting litter. It was about uniting communities, raising awareness, and proving that when we work together, we can protect our oceans and our planet,” she said.

Save a Fishie expressed deep gratitude to its sponsors and supporters. 

“The campaign would not have been possible without the support of its lead sponsors, from local and national sponsors,” she said.

While the waste collected was significant, Ms Prinsloo said the broader impact of the campaign lies in the movement it inspired — a national wave of environmental consciousness and action that demonstrates the power of collective effort.

“This campaign is proof that even small actions, when multiplied across communities, can create powerful waves of change,” she said.