In honour of Women's Month, Briefly News is celebrating seven incredible women in domestic work through the 2025 instalment of Briefly News' Women of Wonder: The Real Housekeepers of Mzansi. This award-winning special project, in its fourth year, shares the powerful stories of women who keep households running while also pursuing their dreams. They represent mothers, business owners, role models, and the heartbeat of many South African homes. We uplift their voices during August.
In honour of Women's Month, Briefly News is celebrating seven incredible women in domestic work through the 2025 instalment of Briefly News' Women of Wonder: The Real Housekeepers of Mzansi. This award-winning special project, in its fourth year, shares the powerful stories of women who keep households running while also pursuing their dreams. They represent mothers, business owners, role models, and the heartbeat of many South African homes. We uplift their voices during August.
The aim of this project is to shift misconceptions about domestic workers. Too often, their contributions are overlooked. Through this series, we highlight their strength, hard work, and ambition. Some of the women featured have even launched successful small businesses while still holding down their jobs as housekeepers, proving how driven and capable they are.
Domestic work remains one of South Africa’s largest and most important employment sectors, with over 850,000 people currently working in private homes. StatsSA reports that the vast majority, about 92%, are women, many of whom are also caregivers and breadwinners supporting entire families.
We spoke to each woman in depth, learning about their journeys, daily challenges, and the dreams they’re working towards. These stories are a tribute to the women who inspire us every day, even if their names aren’t always in the spotlight.
.jpg)
From Zimbabwe to South Africa, Laiza Moyo transformed from a high school pupil cleaning teachers' cottages for extra cash into a respected House Executive who calls herself a "Deputy Parent." Despite the sacrifice of living away from her own children, Moyo has built homes, funded education, and became a mentor to other domestic workers while challenging perceptions of what it means to work in households.
Don't be ashamed of yourself. Confidence is the key and giving up is not an option.
Nelia Ngulube, a Johannesburg domestic worker with 16 years of experience, has recently found sweet success in her new venture,
Yaya's Rusks. Thanks to a clever social media strategy she launched with her current employer, her delicious rusks are now selling out every single week.
I love children... It's a calling to look after children.
Beauty Katiyo, better known as Gogo Mujubheki online, has been a domestic worker for 15 years, building her social media presence with helpful home remedies. While her job brings about challenges, such as exhaustion after a long day's work, the Jozi housekeeper still manages to find the beauty in what she does.
Since I am a hard worker, my boss is the one paying for my children's school fees.
A dedicated domestic worker named Seneria Moyo had overcome humble beginnings to build a better life for her family through hard work and determination. Despite facing challenges and making sacrifices, she takes pride in her job and finds fulfilment in providing for her loved ones, and because of her daughter is now in Japan. Her resilient spirit has enabled her to be a business owner alongside her husband.
I’ve been fortunate to work with people who treat me well. But not all domestic workers are so lucky. We deserve more respect.
Mma Nthabeleng Sawa is a dedicated single mother of three who has been working as a domestic worker for the past 18 years. She takes pride in her work, from cleaning homes to caring for families, and remains loyal and hardworking despite the challenges of low pay. A loving mother, she finds joy in providing for her children and managing her household with the little she earns.
Even if you didn't go to school, there is a job out there waiting for you if you willing to use your hands.
Thobeka Ntini-Makununika is a former domestic worker who defied the limitations society placed on women like her to earn a PhD. Starting work at just 13, she grew up scrubbing floors and ironing clothes while carrying dreams of freedom and dignity. Her journey from invisible labour to academic recognition is a powerful story of resilience, honouring the generations of women who came before her. Today, she uses her voice and research to challenge perceptions of domestic workers, inspire women in invisible labour, and show that humble beginnings do not define one’s destiny.
Society often assumes that domestic workers are unskilled or without ambition. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
Mbali Nhlapo is a housekeeper best known for her viral household cleaning hacks. The Diepkloof-born entrepreneur uses her expertise to empower domestic workers as a housekeeping trainer. Mbali's company, Sisters@Work, reframes domestic workers as professionals whose services go beyond cleaning.
I need people to understand that it is no longer the olden days, where you just say she's just a domestic worker, no, we are professional housekeepers.
Our mission is to celebrate achievements of women (both famous and not yet) daily, as well as inspire our audience for their personal successes. That is why we regularly cover Women Empowerment stories on our website.
