About Izwi
Izwi Domestic Worker Alliance is a network of domestic workers in Johannesburg. We provide:
Advice &
Case Support
Information and advice on employment issues, and assistance with workers' individual cases.
Advocacy
& Research
Qualitative research, public outreach, and legal advocacy to
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Media
Collecting and sharing the stories and experiences of domestic workers.
Izwi was started by a group of domestic workers who wanted to change the way they are treated by employers, and by society in general.
To break down the isolation and vulnerability that domestic workers face, we have built a support network of individual workers, neighbourhood groups, and partner organisations. Read on to see what Izwi has done so far.
Meet our Team
Izwi is directed and governed by our Steering Committee, elected from amongst our members, with a Strategic Advisory Board to provide advice and support.
Maggie Mthombeni
Chair
General Rep
Tshepsio Mphofe
Vice Chair
Lenasia Rep
Sithengisiwe Ndlovu
General Secretary
Hillbrow Rep
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Miriam Mutiskira
Deputy Secretary
General Rep
Tshedza Maphosa
Treasurer
Jeppestown Rep
Amy Tekie
Treasurer
General Rep
Hannah Kayisa
Treasurer
General Rep
Mable Mhlanga
General Rep
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Theresa Nyoni
Yeoville Rep
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Nomatter Dube
Diepsloot Rep
Matshediso Nyathi
Alexandra Rep
Lindiwe Ndlovu
Orange Farm Rep
Memory Madawu
Tembisa Rep
Izwi's Steering Committee
Izwi's Strategic Advisory Board
Chiedza Chagutah
Senior Manager,
Hlanganisa Community Fund for Social & Gender Justice
Grace Gichanga
Founder,
Wasafiri Foundation
Kelebogile Khunou
Researcher,
Socio-Economic Rights Initiative, SA
Kessete Tekie
Banking Technology, CIB, Standard Bank
Co-Founder, Dahlak Africa
Context
Domestic workers number nearly 1 million in South Africa -- more than the labour force of agriculture or mining. However, they are barely visible in labour movements, civil society, and media coverage.
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Employed by individuals in private homes, their work arrangements are often precarious and informal, leaving them isolated and vulnerable to abuse.
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Exploitation ranges from poor working conditions, illegal hours, and below-minimum wages, through to physical, verbal, sexual and racial abuse — all behind closed doors of private residences, which are generally immune to regulatory oversight.
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Globally, there is a growing movement to shed light on abuse and to professionalise the domestic worker industry. In South Africa, Izwi and its partners are standing with domestic workers so that their voices will be heard.
Izwi to date
Since its launch in 2018, Izwi has:
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Built an extensive network of female domestic workers for labour rights education and support.
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Supported over nearly 1000 individual cases of mistreated workers, and faciliated over R2 million in payments from workers to employers.
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Developed an active WhatsApp platform for mobilising, educating and supporting workers.
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Launched neighbourhood groups throughout Gauteng that provide peer support, trainings, and social activities.
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Hosted monthly meetings to respond to individual concerns, and to discuss growth and advocacy issues.
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Triggered extensive media coverage on domestic workers challenges, allowing workers to share their stories.
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Conducted published research on a range of issues affecting domestic workers in South Africa.
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Co-founded and coordinated the One Wage Campaign - a civil society campaign against the exclusion of domestic, farm and EPWP workers from the national minimum wage.
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Successfully advocated for domestic workers access to TERS wage support during Covid-19 pandemic
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Provided food assistance and rent support to members impacted by Covid-19 economic crisis.s
Partners
Some of our core partners include:
Casual Workers Advice Office
Domestic Workers Association of Zimbabwe
Goethe Institute, South Africa
Hlanganisa Community Fund for Social & Gender Justice
Lawyers Against Abuse (LvA)
Lawyers for Human Rights
Luma Law
Migrant Workers Union of South Africa
Migrants for Advocacy Group in SA (MAGSA)
Outreach Foundation
Sexual Harrassment Education Project
Simunye Women Workers Forum
Socio-Economic Rights Initiative (SERI-SA)
Solidarity Centre
South African Domestic and Service Allied Workers
Union (SADSAWU)
United Domestic Workers of South Africa (UDWOSA)
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