LMLM Book Final

Workplace Stories Exhibition Head Researchers Zukile Ntlemeza Bongani Makohliso Masa Soko

Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................

Bulelwa Grootboom ....................................................

01 02

Abongile Mbulawa ......................................................

04

Happy Mswane ...........................................................

06

Nontembeko ...............................................................

08

Mawande Sigwinta .....................................................

10

Mlamli George .............................................................

12

Vusumzi Mnqunga ......................................................

14

Siphosihle Tsobileyo ...................................................

16

Bongi Mswane .............................................................

18

Buntu Kalipa ................................................................

20

Luyanda Mzandolo ....................................................... 22 Nkosiyethu Sigenyevu ................................................. 24 Nokuzola ......................................................................

26

Nosisi Sitpsol ..............................................................

28

Nozoliswa Buwa ..........................................................

30

Nozuko Minya ..............................................................

32

Sapholethu Ngwandi ...................................................

34

Thembeni Dube ...........................................................

36

Thingazwa Boloti ........................................................

38

Yandisa Magagana .....................................................

40

Introduction

The intention of this book is to is tell and educate South African and International citizens about workplace stories from different communities around the country. These short stories are collected through oral interviews with individuals living in these communities in hopes of finding the definition of work and what it entails according to their views.

Work is described as something a person must do or perform in exchange of remuneration. Others described work as something you love and passionate about and dedicate yourself to achieve good results. They also continue to describe workplaces as unpleasant but are forced by desperate circumstances that families find themselves leading to migrating in looking for jobs in cities to support their families.

The stories also highlight how workers are robbed of family time due to long working hours, it also shows cases where workers are overworked, abused and even experience racism.

From the above-mentioned working conditions workers were not able to save for their children as they work from hand to mouth to feed families, no savings plan provided, no investment and no educational trust for their children. These issues are a result of South African history during the apartheid government and their dominance of the country. Therefore, workers had no choice but to endure unbearable conditions.

The issue of inequality in the workplaces is also highlighted in the stories and worker`s rights being violated including human rights. The issue of nepotism in the workplace is another factor that people experience. Abuse of power and unfair treatment amongst workers, is also caused by our failing system of the current government.

01

Bulelwa Grootboom

She was earning R20 per month as she was doing

sleep in

02

Bulelwa Grootboom

Bulelwa Grootboom was born on the 25th September 1939 at Aberdeen in the Eastern Cape. She was persuaded by her cousin to come and seek a job, fortunately enough she found one at Strand and work as a Domestic worker.

She stayed there and she was not allowed to get out, because she could be arrested by police as she did not have a permit to be at Cape Town. She describes the treatment as hard and unbearable but did not have a choice because she needed money.

The only advantage she was white in complexion and she said that “one thing that made me survive back then was my ability to talk English and my surname, I also made myself look like a coloured by straightening my hair and taking off my front teeth, so I could look like them.

The working conditions we worked under, were different depending on your employer, some would be harsh and call you by names such as Kafuri, but some were okay and we had to be obedient”.

She was earning R20 per month as she was doing sleep in, she further explained that they used the money to take care of their families and she worked there for a very long time and regarded as permanent. She explained that even if you were mistreated you do not have anyone to report to and they will only go home after a year and come back the following year, only if you have a “join “it is a legal document that is signed by a magistrate of where you come from as a proof of origin and allowance to come and work for a period of a year or seasonal and you submit the document to the Bantu commission at Stellenbosch, then you will be given a permit that indeed you are here legally.

She believes that after 1994 there was a lot of change and freedom indeed exist as they are walking free from the streets, in contrast she said “it is not safe now due to high rate of crime and unemployment”, and she believes that it is the cause of why our communities are so dangerous and cruel.

03

Abongile Mbulawa

Duties include preparing breakfast for guests, changing bedding and admin work she does a bit of everything.

04

Abongile Mbulawa

Abongile Mbulawa was born in Cala, in a Village called Upper-Cala where she grew up. she came to King Williams Town because an opportunity came, she accepted and it was her first job, she told herself that “I am going to grow in it” and she wasn’t bothered that the Guesthouse had just opened and she would be working on her own without any supervision which was scary because sometimes she did have doubts if she will deliver as promise.

Her daily routine includes waking up and preparing breakfast for guests, after breakfast, see that all dishes are clean and then move into the rooms changing bedding, new, she does a bit of everything around including admin and marketing.

She is passionate about her work because she is doing what she loves; “people shouldn’t always go for money when choosing work because that affects productivity at work”. she explained that her work environment is a relaxed and homely environment so its “home away from home”, because “we can use swimming pool and other things in our free time”.

Her employers said she is permanent but did not sign a contract therefore there is no binding factor or formal agreement between the two parties involved.

“The main challenge that we face is that opportunities are scarce and these days it is about who you know in order to get work, many people are qualified, but still they are unemployed. The “vuk’ uzenzele” concept should be something that is emphasised to people of South Africa,” she knows it would sound as if she’s a hypocrite because she did not follow that concept because it also requires capital so in order to get work you have to “know people in high places”. she said that “everyone that is employed should get benefits like medical aid and others.”

She advises that employment industry want someone who is firm, strong and purpose driven because it is not always nice at work and those times requires one to be strong and face whatever comes their way.

Abongile thinks she would get bored being at home, she would invest her money and continue with her work doing what she loves. Money is like cooked food; you can have lots of it today and tomorrow you wake up broke so “more money more problems”

05

Happy Mswane

She does not have benefits and she is not a member of any union. They do not have any disciplinary procedures

06

Happy Mswane

Happy was born in a rural area called Escort outside Durban where she started her lower grades up until high school where she finished her grade 12.She left home in search for work to support her family, Happy`s migration from rural area to urban area has affected her a lot because she had to start a new life in urban area.

She has been working at the Guest House for 12 years as a permanent Chef.

She currently lives at her workplace. Happy and her colleagues have a good communication, she says that, because they are a small staff which makes it easier to work together well through hardworking and communication.

The culture in KZN is not the same as where she comes from a lot has changed, maybe it is because of the different races. she started monitoring people from other races around to get herself used to this new environment.

Her work environment is very lovely and welcoming place, filled with joy and laughter; hence “you saw the way I welcomed you yesterday with a big smile on my face.

Happy said that the ratio of employment is black with a White manager and she never had any issues in these years working together.

She said that opportunities are scarce, she has a child who finished with school, but cannot find work. Happy says that the government should do something to resolve matter.

She mentioned that they have no benefits nor union, Happy further said, they have no disciplinary procedures because they are small staff and whatever problem they encounter, they fix it amongst themselves and correct one another.

07

Nontembeko

She got a job in a grape farm, she was paid R35 a week

08

Nontembeko

Nontembeko was born in 1979 in Eastern Cape at Xhorha. She was raised by her grandmother who passed away when she was doing standard 7, she then had to leave school. In 1994 Nontembeko went to Cape Town in Lwandle to seek for work unfortunately she could not find work, she then moved to Gugulethu NY64 where she started her own business selling Smiley (Sheep head) and sheep intestines.

In 1998 she moved back to Lwandle to seek work again after a while she got a job in a grape farm, she was paid R35 a week which she says it was not enough for her. She used the R35 she was paid to start her business again, since then she has been working on her business, she never got a job again.

Nontembeko is a mother of three children and they depend solely on her business. She raised her children with the money she makes from the business. Raising her children was not easy she had to take them to day care when they were three months old so she can work on her business, after 6:00 in the evening she would lay her children under the table to sleep while she works. She believes that there are no job opportunities in Strand and when opportunities come people from outside strand are hired.

09

Mawande Sigwinta

Mawande is both employer and employee; he has his own garden project

10

Mawande Sigwinta

Mawande Sigwinta was born in Cape Town in 1991 and moved immediately to the Eastern Cape in a place called Umtata. After completing his primary and secondary education in the Western Cape he enrolled at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology where he studied Analytical Chemistry after completing his diploma he did his B.Tech in Chemistry, while completing his studies he was part of an exchange program where he got the opportunity to study in Burighum (Norway). Following his graduation he did his honours specializing in Polima Science while interning at The University of Stellenbosch. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Chemistry.

Mawande believes that agriculture plays a vital role in the process of economic development and it also contributes to household food security this has led him to start his own gardening initiative; Mawande is an employee and he is also employed he starts to work at 06:30am, at 08:00 he goes to his job until 14:00 pm and then back to the garden until 18:00pm using his own car which takes him 40 minutes to work and sometimes he uses a taxi. His garden and his job take about 90% of his time he further said, “to be successful I need to sacrifice my social life hoping that people around me understands”. He foresees an increasing high unemployment rate for the next couple of years. He said that “people will be forced to apply their own skills and be independent, it will be the survival of the fittest”.

He works with both genders and his focus is more of grooming females to offer them leadership skills and opening up platforms to learn, he is not closing out males but he strongly believes it will go down to merit who get a job based from dedication and passion.

His project is still on early stages, he has employed a few individuals and pay them between R150 and R200 per day depending on the nature of the job available, these earnings comes from his other job. Mawande discovered the importance of saving your own money as part of investment for his own benefit and future.

Mawande urges all youth to change attitude towards work, change language (respect and be professional) and change of standards in townships and to be positive.

11

Mlamli George

Working as a cleaner in a public school two days a week earning R750 a month

12

Mlamli George

Mlamli George was born at Alice, Eastern Cape, in a place called Howen it is an old farm. He studied up until standard 5, due to financial constraints he decided to leave school and went to work in the construction and farm at Cape Town Board River. He further explained that he worked with different races and Coloured were favoured by the white employers, the treatment they got as blacks was unequal and the conditions were not good at all.

Mlamli used to be an entrepreneur but things did not go well and decided to look for a job. He describes work as a form of responsibility and necessity in order to get money, so that you can afford to buy whatever things you need.

The main challenge that they have is the lack of employment opportunities and being underpaid. He currently works as a cleaner in a public school under the Community Worker Project (CWP) and earns R750 per month, therefore it is not enough to sustain living.

He complained about black farms that are not productive and prefer whites to operate the farms as they were employed during that time, he explained that those who are in senior position are selfish and want to feed their families alone they do not care about other people`s lives. His child is unemployed and did not get school even though he passed well but unfortunately the system failed him. He and his wife are working as cleaners at the school and work only two days a week, they both under contract which they are not sure if it will be renewed. He maintains life by planting vegetables and maize in their garden and sell it in order to make money, He is a man of hustle as he plays lotto on the other hand as he believes he will make it in life.

He wants to be self employed again as he believes in independence and he also advise his son to also look job in retail shops and save money as he wants to further his studies, but situation now is not helping as he is unemployed.

13

Vusumzi Mnqunga

Their stock gets damaged as they do not have shelter

14

Vusumzi Mnqunga

Vusumzi Mnqunga was born in Ginsberg, King Williams Town, He dropped out at school while doing his grade 12, but later he went back and finished is grade12, he studied further electrical course N2, N3

He chooses that field because he had a dream of having a permanent employment, family, and car, unfortunately he couldn’t finish his studies because his father didn’t have money.

He started selling clothes, as he didn’t have capital, he made an agreement with Somalia’s, he left his identity document and a cell phone to them and they gave him t-shirts and jeans to sell, and the profit he makes, it’s for him .

One day he got into a fight and he mistakenly stabbed someone to death and he was sentenced to prison in middle drift prison, he served his time and was released in November 2019, while he was in prison he studied engineering and received a certificate, he also studied sewing and bidding.

When he got out of jail he promised himself that he is going to change his life, and he look for work, he ask his brother if he can work for him, his brother has a stand where he is selling clothes in town, so now he is working for him, they do not have a contract, he feels the intercultural dimension that is happening in the eastern cape is very unfair, the area lot of people who want to own businesses but there is no space and they are struggling to get capital and space because of the people coming from Africa.

When he thinks about work, he thinks of something that you do to earn a living because that how life is, if you do not go out and look for work, you will not survive.

He arrive at work at 07:30 am, and set up the stand, the reason they arrive early is because most people they arrive in town at 08:00 am so they start shopping at that time, he walks when he goes to work because its only 20 minutes from home to town, he faces challenges with customers, they always thing clothes that is sold by the hawkers is fake, and they will go and buy clothes at the chines shops at a higher price and they become surprised when they find out the same thing they bought is cheaper at the stand, opportunities in south Africa he think is education, if a child wants to be successful he must study, apply for bursaries, apply for training on how to start a business because those are the opportunities South Africa.

15

Siphosihle Tsobileyo

Siphosihle had no formal training he taught himself on YouTube

16

Siphosihle Tsobileyo

Siphosihle Tsobileyo was born on 5 February 1999 at Pretoria in Gauteng, He grew up in the Eastern Cape before moving to Cape Town in 2004. In high school he did consumer and business studies this is where the passion for cooking started. To pursue his dream he studied hospitality management at Northlink college and then he went for job hunting. Unfortunately he could not find a job as Chef as he has hoped, he had to settle for a barista position in a well-known hotel. Siphosihle had challenges in this position as he had no formal training, he taught himself on YouTube. He describes work as a source of income.

He used to travel from strand to Stellenbosch daily by using staff transport costing him R1000 a month, to get to work at 6:00 in the morning he had to wake up at 4:00. If he could change anything at his workplace, he said “I could change the way employees are treated by management, you would do your work properly for three months and make one mistake and they make you feel useless”. He believes that he was underpaid, what he was earning was less than the “basic salary” of a barista which he thinks is R6000 a month.

During level five Covid-19 lockdown the hotel had to close, and he knew even after the lockdown It will not be easy for hospitality industry. After not working for few months he had to make a plan to earn a living, this is when he started his fast food restaurant, he used his Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to start his business and with the help from his family. In his restaurant he employed two ladies to assist him, he describes his relationship with his employees as healthy they like family.

He believes that employment opportunities in South Africa are not enough as companies continue to lay off more people. He further advised youth and said, “Believe in yourself and trust the process, and pursue your dreams”.

17

Bongi Mswane

There is a lot of nepotism and bribery around before you can get a job

18

Bongi Mswane Bongi was born at Ndwedwe on the 31 December 1981, she currently stays at Mayville. She grew up there and works there. She believes life is not nice here in Durban.

She works as a domestic worker, she says it is hard to get a job around here and she does not work full time only two days per week, even the job she has she got it through her friend. She further describes that she works because she needs money there is no life without money and life is expensive.

Her work is generally domestic, cleaning and cooking. She says that work is a responsibility and there is no way forward without work. The work is dominated by women. The working conditions that she work under is normal and there is no pressure from the employer, they use their own pace. She is registered at Labour department that is the benefit that they have so they are protected. The main challenge that she talked about is job scarcity which affect a lot of families especially youth, and they end up doing drugs because of unemployment.

The grievance that she raised is that people are employed through a connection and there is a lot of nepotism and bribery around before you can get a job. Work desperation is very high, and people are getting robbed and those who work make false promises because of money.

19

Buntu Kalipa

The ratio of ethnic group is balanced and enjoy working with them, they are like a family R100

R100

20

Buntu Kalipa

Buntu was born in Paarl Embekweni at Western Cape on the 8th of December 1986. He is working as banker in one of the big financial institutions in SA. His main job is to advise people and deal with their queries and come up with solutions for them, basically he explains that his job depends to what clients want. When he thinks of work nothing comes to mind as specific because he enjoy what he does, he only plan his routine and everything fall into place, his job needs an outspoken person and he suit exactly the requirements, it is not a challenge to him.

He travels daily from Strand to Khayelitsha using his own car, travelling takes him about twenty minutes depending on traffic. His work does not affect his social life he has time for family.

The ratio of ethnic group is balanced and enjoy working with them, they are like a family. The main challenge that he gets at work would be dealing with difficult clients or rude clients. He is permanent at work and does not feel much pressure as he has benefits such as Medical aid, provident fund and unemployment insurance fund. He says what he is earning is fair no salary is ever enough.

He believes that there are opportunities available in SA, but you need to meet the requirements, experience and qualification. He emphasized that the private sector needs to open and employ young graduates and work alongside the public sector and the economy will grow and change many lives of South Africans and alleviate poverty. He further said that if you can be your own boss, so be it start your own business.

21

Luyanda Mzandolo

I believe that health access should not be the privilege but one’s right

22

Luyanda Mzandolo

Luyanda Mzandolo was born in 1976 at Eastern Cape, at Indwe, he arrived in Cape Town in 2003, he is a Doctor by profession. He started to work in Lwandle around 2005 assisting Dr Potelwa who later decided to hand over the practice to him. The support he has been getting from the community has been great, he says he feels like part of the community.

He defines work as demanding due to his profession and believe it is impossible not to get a job after you finished your studies in this field. His work environment entails too much pressure and feel overwhelmed, dealing with diseases and problems that people have. He defines it as not depressing at all. He is self employed he does not have benefits. Therefore, he relies on his own budget and income.

The main challenge that he spoke about are referrals when he has patient that he cannot manage there is no mutual understanding with the hospitals be it private or public due to workload and waiting list so he experiences some difficulties in that part.

He believes that this setback of referrals is the main part that he could change so that people can be taken care of by specialists if he/she needs one be it private or public hospital, people`s lives comes first and very important to be given the satisfaction by the health department. He added, “I think we should have the medical access for everybody irrespective where you work because I believe that health access should not be the privilege but one`s right”. He continued, saying that the solution would be to fix the public sector first before implementing the NHI programme (National Health Insurance) so that it can be easy for the public to be taken care of by the department of health, and he emphasized that the youth should work harder and create opportunities for themselves, then they might succeed and not only rely on government.

23

Nkosiyethu Sigenyevu

He finds work very fun, we work short hours, get an opportunity to interact with other people

24

Nkosiyethu Sigenyevu

Nkosiyethu Sigenyevu was born on the 8th of July 1984 at Idutywa in the Eastern Cape. He arrived in Cape Town, year 2004. He works at the Hector Peterson library at Lwandle as a library assistant. “I got an opportunity to serve the public because I can relate to the public situation and hardship of access to information and wanted to help. I knew I had ability to be employed by government, all done to secure my future.”

He described his work environment/employment “I found work very fun, we work short hours, get an opportunity to interact with other people, giving back to the community by assisting youth to get the information. There are benefits such as medical aid, pension fund. As an affiliated member of a union I can happily say my rights as an employee are protected.” He further explained about the conditions of his workplace as follows: “There is a lack of space, our library is based in the location and surrounded by many schools, after 3PM you will find that the library is overcrowded. Some leaners will go back without being fully assisted.”

He described the challenges that they encounter as: “shortage of resource, Lack of support from parents, clash of syllabus with schools which does not correspond with what we have as a library, crime and stealing of cables which cost computers not to operate. Budget constraints based on statistics.” His views about the employment in SA were: “I am very concerned about the availability of work opportunities in South Africa! It has highest percentage of unemployment.” He suggested: “There should have an open communication access from the government to communicate with the public on how to access those opportunities. Having information centre to provide information and academics available and assist on how to take full advantages of those opportunities. He also thinks a change of hours as an information centre could bring improvement in our economy. Information centre should operate 24 hours, to assist the working class as well. To open as support desk. To have WIFI available to the community, education is the key, educate yourself as far as you can, there is no limit.”

25

Nokuzola

She is a famer who plants maize and vegetables, she also grows pigs and sells them.

26

Nokuzola

Nokuzola was born on the 12th July 1975 in King Williams Town, she studied there all her school grades, she did not further her studies and decided to open her fruit and vegetable stand. She describes her work as an independence as she is self-employed. She does not want to work for someone else reason being “the majority of workers are exploited and abused, and I do not like it” She made a point of reference by her aunt who worked as a domestic worker She is a famer who plants maize and vegetables, she also grows pigs and sell it, that is how she makes her money, an entrepreneur in the making. She complained about the project of Vukuzenzele. It is a business initiative by government and they already have businesses, but government does not assist them or contribute to their businesses, she sees government as unsupportive and selfish. She feels that her rights are being violated and there is no freedom in South Africa.

The main challenge that she comes across is that, law enforcement is evicting their stand and they have nowhere to go and they are not given an alternative space to work on, therefore he sees government as unfair and abusing their powers, she even said “government must stop think for themselves and their families but to consider the poorer as well and corruption is destroying the future of our country”. She said there is no work in South Africa she advise her children to go to school and study and also teaches them responsibility of taking care poultries, gardening while she is in the stand selling, she teaches them independence and responsibility because one day” I will depart this world and they must learn to survive and take care of themselves”

27

Nosisi Sitpsol

If they find me in the kitchen drinking coffee, they will take the cup and break it on the floor

28

Nosisi Sitpsol

Nosisi Sitpsol was born in 1942 in Lady Frere in the Eastern Cape. Years later, she then moved to Cape Town, and stayed at Lwandle. She got a job in Somerset west where she worked as a domestic worker, A day she was paid R40.00. she worked there for two years. “I was not happy to work for my first bosses, they were not friendly they treated me badly, if they find me in the Kitchen drinking coffee, they will take the cup and break it on the floor.”

“My brother spoke to white man in Gordons bay, he was looking for a domestic worker and I got the job, through our negotiations he offered to pay me R100 a day”. A year later, they did job enlargement; my duties were to look after three children, clean the house, doing laundry and ironing. When I enquire about wage increment, my boss suggested that I consider doing chase. That’s when she started working two days and three days at other white family house for 20 years. She then retires after 20 years of service, due to health condition, she was no longer fit to work.

29

Nozoliswa Buwa

She wishes to get permanent employment with benefits

30

Nozoliswa Buwa Nozoliswa Buwa was born in Alice where she grew up in a location called Melani, when we asked what work means to her she stated that she believes that work means “taking responsibility and outshining yourself on what you do”, for her this is a daily thing and this make the parents of the kids feel free when leaving their kids with her knowing that they are in good hands, her daily routine as a practitioner at the Creche, is to welcome kids at the gate, teaching them how to utilise their small muscles by doing puzzles and paintings, she then take them out to outdoor so that they can be able to use their big muscle by playing soccer, skipping and ropes.

As a community based day-care centre, during the recruitment process, we invite the people of the community including the parents of those who are in the Creche to come and identify a suitable candidate according to their lifestyle and experiences.

The working conditions are not great and they had to ask assistance from the community in order for the Creche to be extended and she mentioned that the building capacity does not allow them to add more kids according to the department of health due to children safety and health reasons and they cannot take infants because of the cold weather in winter.

Nozoliswa describes her work as challenging, but they developed a mechanism between her and her colleagues by resolving their challenges amongst them rather than involving someone who would drag the situation.

She works under contract and she believes that the department is dragging their feet when it come to this matter and she is worried about the stipend they get that is not enough and has no benefits, she is worried that one day when she stops working she would have to rely on social grant only. Nozoliswa believes that the level of work she She travels to work by her husband’s Bakkie which he uses as a Taxi in Msobomvu, Nozoliswa travels back home by foot which takes her about 20minutes to get home, she refers to this as an exercise to her. Does compared to the stipend she gets is way too small because she is a qualified practitioner.

She wishes to get permanent employment with benefits so that one day when she resigns, she can have retirement package to back her up financially, she advises youth to empower themselves with sets of skills which will open doors for them. Nozoliswa has a daughter who is a graduate, but still struggle to find.

She concluded by saying; if she had enough money, she would produce her own food through gardening, she is working because of money needed to provide for her family.

31

Nozuko Minya

She describes her employer as understanding and have good communication with them

32

Nozuko Minya

Nozuko Minya was born on the 31 December 1960 in a place called Taung and she studies her lower primary at Mokgareng and went to study her junior at Alzo in Xesi then high school phase studied at Thembalethu in Zwelitsha.

She is currently living in Sweetwaters at Qonce. She explained that it was difficult for her to adapt to the Eastern cape culture. She did not finish school and she faced difficult times. She is working as a domestic worker; her duties are cleaning and Ironing. She works two days in a week and her daily routine start at 07H30 until 15h00, She is travelling with transport to town and then walk to reach her workplace destination. She got the job from people who are going to church with, and they are black. She has been working for them for 6 years now.

She described work as a means to help and fulfil ones needs, she says that she work because she needs money, She told us that she has a disabled child and her late husband was taking good care of them, therefore after he passed away life was difficult and she was forced to go and work, in order to take care of her family.

The challenges that she faces is not finishing her work on time and other one would be a transport challenge. She describes her employer as understanding and have good communication with them, therefore if she encounters a problem, she talked to them and replace her working day. She does not have any employment benefits in her workplace.

She says that the main challenges that are faced by South Africans is the issue of high unemployment rate and government must create job opportunities. Nozuko says that she works because she needs money and everything revolves around money and life is expensive.

33

Sapholethu Ngwandi

To get a job you need to know someone qualification does not guarantee you a job R100

R100

34

Sapholethu Ngwandi

Sapholethu Ngwandi was born and bred at Lwandle in Strand on 24 December 1995. He started schooling at Umnqophiso Primary School and continued to Khanyolwethu Secondary School. He graduated from the University of the Western Cape with degree in finance. Sapholethu got his first job late in 2018 in one of the big E-commerce companies, he worked as an intern. He says that getting his first job was not easy because he had no working experience. Currently Sapholethu is working as client service consultant in a financial institution in Cape Town. His duties include resolving queries of clients; this is done by e-mail, telephonically and sometimes face to face consultation.

He is now working from home because of the Covid-19 pandemic, before the pandemic he used to travel to work daily from Strand to Cape Town. Initially he travelled by train to work but because of the delays he had to change mode of transport to bus which takes about an hour to work depending on traffic. Travelling time affected his studies as he was still completing his post graduate studies.

He is not happy with the recruitment process at his workplace as he thinks that many qualified people who can do a better job are left out because of the recruitment process. He also believes that for the effort he put in his work he is underpaid.

In his opinion job opportunities in South Africa are slim, to get a job you need to know someone qualification does not guarantee you a job. Advising graduates who are still looking for jobs and students who are still studying Sapholethu said, “While you studying you need to have a plan on how you will earn living and not depend only on your qualification, it might take about two years to get a job. We must use our skills and talents”.

35

Thembeni Dube

Her working environment as calm and peaceful

36

Thembeni Dube

Thembeni Dube was born on the 29th October 1976, in Hlabisa at Kwazulu Natal, she is currently staying at South Beach. She studied in Mtubatuba. She works as a domestic worker she works 2 days in a week, her duties include cleaning, ironing and cooking. When she thinks about work, she describes it as a need, because she says that everything revolves around money, and everything needs money. She is a registered worker. She describes her working environment as calm and peaceful no one guides you, so “we are responsible, and we take our duties serious.”

The main challenge that she has identified in South Africa is lack of job opportunities, and government officials are hiring their friends and families which is unfair to other people who qualifies to fill in those vacancies. She is educating her child to a school where she pays money for studies and transport, which is costly to her. There other thing is that she works two days in a week which is not enough in terms of earning, so it does not meet her needs.

Thembeni said that government must give equal opportunities to all South African and not unfair treatment that is happening to the municipalities.

Government must all provide these opportunities to the youth because now they end up smoking drugs because they have too much time of not doing anything for their own lives. Youth are being destroyed by drugs and alcohol.

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Thingazwa Boloti

She moved to cape town to finish her matric

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Thingazwa Boloti

Thingazwa Boloti was born in Alice, She moved to cape town to finish her matric and came back to eastern cape in 2013, she was unemployed until 2017, when the principal of Ifestile Primary school called a meeting that the government is looking for people who are going to cook for children, and she got the job, back then there was no contract. Until 2018 when she was given a 2 years contract which is ending at the end of March 2020.

She walks when she is going to work, and it only takes her 20 minutes since it is not far. She is happy with her work and the challenges she is facing when other children want to have special attention, she is not receiving any benefits, and she does not have a union that she belongs to She reports to the Coordinator, if there is anything. She thinks there are lot of opportunities as the government says you must wake up and start a business, and youth should learn to start their own things as jobs are being scarce, what she can change at her work is the time for the children to get food, they receive food very early in the morning.

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Yandisa Magagana

He is a very busy young individual who is also an entrepreneur

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Yandisa Magagana Yandisa Magagana is originally from Willowvale (Gatyane) and he was born on the 22nd of January 1994

He moved to Cape Town because his parents had to come and look for work.

He studied Automotive Maintenance in King Hintsa FET. He is currently working as an Apprenticeship for City of Cape Town.

He is a very busy young individual who is also an entrepreneur this is all because he believes that he needs to work hard now and accomplish whatever needs to be accomplished while he still has the strength. When he thinks about work and employment, what comes into he’s mind is passion and job satisfactory. Yandisa says that getting to work can be very stressful because he must wake up at 4:30 in the morning because he is using train as his source of transportation to get to work, he says it can delay him due to power cables theft. So, for him to be safe he needs to catch the 6:10 am train and sometimes he would get tired even before he starts working because of the time spent travelling to work. For the work he is doing he says what he is getting paid is fair.

Yandisa says that the apartheid element is still around even though he cannot pinpoint it. He says that he is judging this from the way other people do things or use of some words especially in the area of different races and he believes that it is something that can be worked out. He says that South Africa doesn’t have much employment opportunities because there is a large number of graduates that are not working in their relevant field of study, he says that you will find them in the restaurants working as waiters, Supermarkets and in retail shops So, he believes that there is still a lot to be done as a country in terms of employment especially for young people because you find young people destroying their lives by using drugs and other substances because of unemployment A workplace for him is a place where you need to dedicate your self and know you are there to deliver and not play. And a workplace must be treated with professionalism, for instance if you are a nurse at the clinic, make sure that you help people. He says that many people are taking their work for granted because some are playing social media, and some are being corrupt.

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Conclusion

Findings made from the workplace stories indicate that; the exchange between the employer and employee in terms of work performed and remuneration is not fair, it favors the employer more in most cases as they underpay their employees. When people think about work, money comes to their mind, they described work as means of earning a living and said that to survive you need to have money. From the interviews conducted it is evident that even after the 26 years of democracy in South Africa some people are not free in the workplace, they are not treated with dignity and they do not have any benefits. However, some of the interviewees mentioned that they are registered by their employers with the Department of Labour and they have benefits such as Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).

Public transport is one of the biggest issue that South African workers face.

Those who do not own cars leave their homes early in the morning and come back late in the evening. Most of those interviewed make use of public transport such as taxis, trains and buses. Long working hours affects the workers’ private life and children’s wellbeing as they do not have time to attend to their children, this causes disturbance in the family structure and upbringing of the children. Due to the high unemployment rate in South Africa people are starting their own small businesses to survive, these businesses contribute to the community as they employ members of the community.

Small business owners face challenges which include not getting support from the government, not having information on how to access funds for small businesses and training to grow their businesses and improve as entrepreneurs as a result these businesses remain static and some of them even end up closing down.

Nepotism is one of the factors that contributes to unemployment, qualified people are left out because they do not have connections or know someone in high places. Graduates are not working on their desired fields this is because employers’ expectations are high, making it harder for graduates to quickly find jobs that aligns to their studies. Even entry level positions require experience and graduates end up taking any job available.

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Acknoledgement Researchers: Zukile Ntlemeza, Masa Soko, Bongani Makohliso, Anele Kalipa, Sive Mjikelo Curator: Masa Soko Photographers: Zimkitha Ngaleka, Zuko Skhafungana, Masa Soko, Sive Mjikelo Exhibition Design: Simo Mafuxwana

Sponsorships: National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS), Western Cape

Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports

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www.lwandlemuseum.co.za