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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. 

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Maggie Mthombeni

Chair
General Rep

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Tshepsio Mphofe

Vice Chair
Lenasia Rep

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Sithengisiwe Ndlovu

General Secretary
Hillbrow Rep

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Miriam Mutiskira

Deputy Secretary
General Rep

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Tshedza Maphosa

Treasurer
Jeppestown Rep

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Amy Tekie

Treasurer
General Rep

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Hannah Kayisa

Treasurer
General Rep

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Mable Mhlanga

General Rep

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Theresa Nyoni

Yeoville Rep

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Nomatter Dube

Diepsloot Rep

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Matshediso Nyathi

Alexandra Rep

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Lindiwe Ndlovu

Orange Farm Rep

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Memory Madawu

Tembisa Rep

Izwi's Steering Committee

Izwi's Strategic Advisory Board

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Chiedza Chagutah

Senior  Manager,

Hlanganisa Community Fund for Social & Gender Justice

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Grace Gichanga

Founder,
Wasafiri Foundation

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Kelebogile Khunou

Researcher,

Socio-Economic Rights Initiative, SA

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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.

Context

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.

  • Supported over nearly 1000 individual cases of mistreated workers, and faciliated over R2 million in payments from workers to employers.

  • Developed an active WhatsApp platform for mobilising, educating and supporting workers. 

  • Launched neighbourhood groups throughout Gauteng that provide peer support, trainings, and social activities.

  • Hosted monthly meetings to respond to individual concerns, and to discuss growth and advocacy issues.

  • Triggered extensive media coverage on domestic workers challenges, allowing workers to share their stories.

  • Conducted published research on a range of issues affecting domestic workers in South Africa.

  • 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.

  • Successfully advocated for domestic workers access to TERS wage support during Covid-19 pandemic

  • Provided food assistance and rent support to members impacted by Covid-19 economic crisis.s

Izwi to date
Partners

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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Interested?

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