Washing clothes keeps Booysens resident happy
She does her washing every Wednesday, be it raining or icy cold, she will wash and keep it in the house for the next sunny day.
WASHING her husband’s and two children’s clothes puts a smile on Lydia Kobokholo’s face.
Lydia is currently unemployed and depends on her tuck shop, which she runs in Booysens informal settlement. Lydia has been living in the settlement for seven years and all these years she tried seeking for employment but to no avail.
Having a family has taught her to take care of her household, especially when washing their clothes. Her children love playing outside in the dusty passages of the settlement.Lydia says washing clothes is a normal thing and one of those things everyone needs to do, but the difference for her is that she loves doing it.
She does her washing every Wednesday, be it raining or icy cold, she will wash and keep it in the house for the next sunny day.
Speaking with the COURIER, she said she doesn’t want help with her washing, she does it alone and enjoys doing it.
“I always tell people everyone has something they love and to other people, it seems useless. Washing my children’s clothes creates a bond between us because I see how they love to play as their clothes are always dirty.”
A washing machine is not something Lydia thinks about. Since her childhood she has been using her hands to do washing and to her, that has become her ritual.
Her washing of clothes has been her source of strength and belief as she said, with this ritual of her she tackles and overcomes boredom.
Lydia uses three buckets when she does her washing. In the first she soaks to remove all stains and then wash, in the second she rinses, and in the third she uses fabric softener.
“I sometimes compete with my neighbours when they are also doing their washing to who will finish first and most times it is me. I love, care about and enjoy what I do. People may think I do washing only and neglect cleaning my house, but that is the first thing I do every morning,” she added.
One of her neighbours, Karabo Moloi, told the COURIER she is inspired by Lydia and loves washing her clothes as well.
“We often compete and she will finish first, which is fun in most cases,” said Lydia.
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