SA First Lady praises domestic workers, shares dinner with them

Domestic workers from across the province received praise from South Africa’s First Lady, Tshepo Motsepe for their continued hard work and were urged to join various trade unions and worker’s organisations to learn new skills that will in turn assist them to get funding to start businesses.
The workers flocked to Protea Hotel Ranch Resort last Thursday evening for a gala dinner hosted by Limpopo First Lady Margaret Mathabatha and Motsepe who stated that the work done by women in society was remarkable. Although she stressed that a lot still needs to be done for women to be emancipated, Motsepe stressed that women have to join forces and empower each other to reach greater heights.
She emphasised that employers have to change the way they run the show in their households and treat domestic workers with respect and give them the love they deserve. “Our domestic workers play a pivotal role in our families hence we need to respect them. We are also gathered to try and find ways to change the working conditions of our helpers. We also have to educate and support our girl-children to focus on their studies and talents to become better women in the future,” she stated.

Motsepe also encouraged mothers to teach young boys how a woman should be treated and reckoned that this might minimise the abuse women endure in society. After Motsepe’s address, domestic workers were afforded a platform to ask questions relating to business and medical treatment since Motsepe is a qualified medical practitioner.
The dinner forms part of a diverse range of events being implemented by the trust, including a breakfast meeting with female inmates earlier as part of Women’s Month celebrations under the theme “100 Years of Albertina Sisulu, Woman of Fortitude: Women United in Moving South Africa Forward”.
Earlier at the correctional facility, Mathabatha addressed over 100 female inmates detained in Polokwane and Thohoyandou Correctional Centre, transferred for the day. The breakfast programme was facilitated by offenders who also rendered different items such as drama, poetry and songs. Mathabatha said as they close the Women’s Month chapter, inmates should remember that this was not the end of the road, adding that prison is not good for anyone and urged them to have hope.
“You are still strong women and the only thing that has changed is the fact that you don’t have freedom. Prison is not a nice place and I believe that you have learnt a lesson,” she stated, adding that officials at the facility highlighted the challenges faced by inmates and reiterated that the trust will assist where possible.

Story & photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za