A Johannesburg-based domestic worker is demonstrating that house staff do far more than just clean, sharing her inspiring journey from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
Laiza Moyo, who goes by the moniker “the Mop Driver” on Facebook, has spent years advocating for respect and recognition for domestic workers, showcasing the skill and dedication inherent in their daily tasks.
Moyo grew up in Zimbabwe, where her grandmother imparted invaluable lessons on managing an entire household. Speaking to Briefly News, Moyo reflected:
“I was raised by my granny, who taught me everything about being responsible for an entire household, so that kind of shaped me to be the woman I am today.”
Even as a high school student inZimbabwe, Moyo would clean teachers’ cottages after lessons to earn extra money.
Upon moving to South Africa, Moyo resolved to pursue domestic work full-time.
Now employed as a live-in House Executive in Johannesburg, her day begins at 5:30 AM with personal preparation, followed by the start of her duties at 6 AM.
She prepares coffee for the parents, makes tea for the two boys, readies their breakfast, packs their lunch boxes, dresses them, brushes their teeth, and sees them off to school.
Once the children have left, Moyo manages all household chores, including cleaning, laundry, and ironing. She also prepares lunch and plans the evening meal.
When the boys return from school, she oversees their care, organising activities to keep them engaged rather than watching television.
At 4 PM, she begins cooking for the entire family, serves the boys at 5 PM, feeds everyone at 5:30 PM, bathes the boys, and puts them to bed at 6:30 PM.
Moyo then tidies the house before retiring to her room at 7 PM. She said:
“I always tell people that I’m a House Executive or Deputy Parent because I believe that I play a significant role in the family that I work for.
“I manage the house, I know where everything is, so I wake up every morning like I’m going to the office.”
Over the years, Moyo has developed considerably in her role. Initially concentrating on basic household duties, she gradually took on a wider range of responsibilities, including budgeting, scheduling, cooking, meal planning, creating grocery lists, and managing the household. Each new task allowed her to hone her skills and expertise.
Balancing the demands of being a live-in domestic worker with raising her own children remains Moyo’s greatest challenge.
She explained that living with her employers often means missing precious time with her children, which has been emotionally taxing.
Nonetheless, Moyo has achieved remarkable goals through her earnings.
She is currently building a home in Zimbabwe, a feat she regards as a major accomplishment given the country’s difficult economic conditions.
In addition, she is able to send her children to school and support her mother.
When her child sick, Moyo said her employers were supportive and accommodating, providing both financial stability and a sense of normalcy during a stressful period. She expressed deep gratitude for their compassion and flexibility.
Moyo has also become a mentor to newer domestic workers and sees herself as a leader in her field.
She is contributing to a cleaning tips book designed to assist House Executives who lack access to online training due to data costs or limited mobile devices.
She champions for greater recognition of domestic workers in South Africa and for fair employment benefits.
Her message to other women is both clear and inspiring:
“Don’t be ashamed of yourself. Confidence is the key, and giving up is not an option. You have family to feed.”
More: Briefly News
Leave a Reply Cancel reply