As part of our labour rights campaign, it is important that we emphasise and highlight the important work of domestic workers in South Africa, like Mama Ningi Primrose Khuzwayo, who have been the silent pillars of South African households. In this interview, Mama Ningi talks about her experiences, including some of her achievements and struggles as a domestic worker in South Africa. 

How long have you been working as a domestic worker?

I began working as a domestic worker in 1996, right after my mother passed away in 1995. At the time of her death, my mother had been working for a family in Phoenix, Durban, and when she passed, they asked me to take over her role.

Since I had occasionally helped my mother with her work when I visited her, I was already familiar with the duties and responsibilities of a house worker. This made the transition easy for me, and I began working for the same family almost immediately after her passing.

Please explain the nature of your work and past experiences in your work environment.

My work as a domestic worker has always involved a variety of responsibilities, from cleaning and doing laundry to taking care of the children. I also enjoying feeding and bathing the children. I love this type of work because it allows me to take care of others and help maintain a clean and organized home. It gives me a sense of pride to know that my work makes a difference in the lives of the families I work for.

However, Mama Ningi’s journey has not been without challenges. She recalls instances of mistreatment by some employers.

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I’ve had employers who tried to underpay me or even refused to pay me entirely. There were times when I was promised a certain amount on payday, only for them to tell me they couldn’t pay me the full amount, or worse, that they wouldn’t pay me at all. In those moments, I felt powerless and abused because I relied on that money to take care of my own family.

Despite these difficulties, Ningi emphasizes that she has never been fired from any job. “I’ve never been fired from work or had any major conflicts with employers, but there was one situation that made me uncomfortable. I once worked for a family in Durban, and the employer would occasionally take me to her sister’s house to help with her housework. This was not part of our original agreement, and it made me and the sister’s helper uncomfortable. I decided to leave that job because I felt that my boundaries were not being respected.”

Would you say your work environment safe and healthy?

My current job is much better, and my employer treats me well. However, there have been times in the past when I felt unsafe or unappreciated. The worst part was when my salary was manipulated or withheld by employers. I’ve been fortunate enough not to have experienced physical abuse, but financial abuse can be just as damaging because it directly impacts my ability to support myself and my family.

 

Domestic workers in South Africa are protected by several laws, including the National Minimum Wage Act,Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and the Labour relations Act which set out minimum wages, protection against unfair dismissal and fair working conditions.

 

• • Minimum Wage: Domestic workers are entitled to a set minimum wage, which is adjusted annually by the Labour Department.

• • Working Hours: Domestic workers cannot work more than 45 hours a week.

• • Leave: Domestic workers are entitled to three weeks of paid annual leave.

The story of Mama Ningi represents the strength, resilience, and dedication of domestic workers across South Africa. While significant legislative steps have been taken to protect their rights, more needs to be done to enforce.