Phindile, 45 - Caregiver

I was born in Bulawayo, but I was raised in the rural areas. I had a joyful and peaceful upbringing. In the 1980s, Zimbabwe offered a good standard of living for all. It was great. I had a loving home and both parents. My father was a farmer, and he instilled in me a sense of strength and purpose. After completing my O-levels, I did a short course in dressmaking and began working in my sister’s clothing shop.

By the time I was 22, Zimbabwe’s economy had begun to deteriorate. In 2001, I decided to come to South Africa to try make a better life. Thankfully, my brother and uncle were already living in Johannesburg, and I stayed with my brother for a bit while I looked for jobs. I did eventually find a job as a cleaner in a doctor’s surgery, and later I transitioned into domestic work and childcare, where I discovered my passion for caring for others.

Together with my husband, we started a small driving school, but in 2007 he was shot and killed during a hijacking. Our youngest child was only eight months old at the time. I was left with four children and no steady income. I leaned heavily on my brother — but he passed away 6 months later from TB.

I survived through doing odd jobs provided by people in my community. I would do anything from washing people’s clothes, cleaning houses, and selling handmade sandals. During this time, the UIF payout from my husband’s work and some assistance from a bank-sponsored education program, I was able to ensure that all four children completed their schooling up to Grade 12. My deep faith in God carried me through these incredibly difficult years. I found strength in prayer and the belief that things would eventually get better. My desire to give my children a better future has always been my guiding light

In 2012, I took a job as a nanny for a family in Johannesburg. They were incredibly kind and often helped me with groceries and even helped to pay my children’s school fees. After working for this family for four years, they unfortunately emigrated to the UK. It was this period that awakened my passion for caregiving. I underwent formal training through St. John’s College, including practical hospice care, and eventually became a qualified caregiver.

For the past seven years, I have worked as a live-in carer for an elderly woman with dementia. While the job comes with lots of challenges, I approach my work with patience and grace. I have been here before. I had my own experience caring for my grandmother, who also suffered from dementia. I am deeply proud of my job. I find joy in making a meaningful difference in the lives of those I care for. During Covid, there were many in my community who lost their jobs and were struggling to survive. I was now able to pay it forward — to help others in need, just as others have helped me. I had a salary. I was ok. So, I donated half of my salary to help those in my community who had nothing.

Today, I am remarried. My new husband, Edward, runs a trucking business, and together we manage to stay afloat. I’m proud of myself. I’m proud that I was able to raise four children to adulthood as a single mother, without ever giving up. Maybe one day I can return to Zimbabwe, with my family. We could farm crops and raise animals just like my father did. To live the peaceful, simple life. That would be marvellous.”