Breadwinner loses her job due to pandemic

Losing a job can be quite devastating but it becomes worse when you are a breadwinner.

This is the reality for Zureen Swarts of Windmill Park, who is one of many people who lost their jobs as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown.

According to Stats SA between October and December last year, the unemployment rate increased from 30,8 per cent to 32,5.

The 49-year-old, who used to work at the OR Tambo International Airport Swissport as a reduce mobility assistance, said when the national lockdown was instituted last year in March, they were told to stay at home until further notice.

She said she continued to get her full salary until June.

“During the lockdown, my phone’s battery was broken. When I bought a new phone so I can get updates on our work Whatsapp group, the phone got lost.”

Swarts said after a few months she was told that some people were called to return to work but unfortunately she wasn’t called because didn’t have a phone.

“It was hard to accept that I was no longer working and had no income. I developed anxiety and stress, which affected my high blood pressure. The fact that I was the only one working at home posed questions on how we were going to survive. All my policies lapsed.”

The mother of three said her husband died two years ago and she has been supporting her children and three of her relatives who are also unemployed.

“Seeing that my health was deteriorating, I had to choose to give up or continue to live for my children. What helped me through this challenging phase in my life is that I prayed and had held onto hope.

“We survived from the donations that we have been receiving from church members, friends, neighbours and some family members. Even last year November I got a bonus from work which helped to make ends meet,” she said.

Swarts, who is currently looking for a job, said this situation has taught her to appreciate everything that she has.

She advises unemployed people to hold on and have faith that eventually there’s going to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

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