“I’m Building Back Home”: Joburg Domestic Worker Details Sacrifices To Support Her Family

• Johannesburg-based Laiza Moyo started cleaning teachers' cottages in Zimbabwe as a high school student and now works as a house executive
• In an Exclusive interview with Briefly News, the experienced domestic worker shared why she calls herself a "Deputy Parent" and how her work has helped her succeed
• Moyo balances being a live-in worker with raising her children, showing the sacrifices domestic workers make to provide for their families and support employers
• Laiza Moyo has been selected as one of Briefly News' 2025 Women of Wonder: The Real Housekeepers of Mzansi for her dedication to changing perceptions about domestic work and empowering others

A Johannesburg domestic worker is proving that house executives do much more than just cleaning by sharing her inspiring journey from Zimbabwe to South Africa. Laiza Moyo, who calls herself "the Mop Driver" on Facebook, has spent years showing that domestic workers deserve respect and recognition for the skilled work they do every day.

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Moyo grew up in Zimbabwe, where her grandmother taught her everything about being responsible for an entire household.

"I was raised by my granny, who taught me everything about being responsible for an entire household, so that kind of shaped me to be the woman I am today," she explained.

Even as a high school student, she would clean teachers' cottages after school to earn extra money.

When she moved to South Africa, Moyo decided to pursue domestic work full-time. Now working as a live-in House Executive in Johannesburg, her day starts at 5:30 am when she prepares herself before starting work at 6 am. She prepares coffee for the parents, makes tea for the two boys, gets their breakfast ready, packs their lunch boxes, dresses them, brushes their teeth, and sends them off to school.

Daily life as a House Executive

Once the children leave for school, Moyo handles all household tasks, including cleaning, washing, and ironing. She then prepares lunch for everyone and plans dinner. When the boys return from school, she takes over their care, planning activities to keep them busy instead of watching TV.

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At 4 pm, she starts cooking for the whole family, serves the boys at 5 pm, feeds everyone at 5:30 pm, bathes the boys and puts them to sleep at 6:30 pm, then cleans up before going to her room at 7 pm.

"I always tell people that I'm a House Executive or Deputy Parent because I believe that I play a significant role in the family that I work for. I manage the house, I know where everything is, so I wake up every morning like I'm going to the office," Moyo said.

Over the years, she's grown significantly in her role. Initially, she focused on basic household duties, but as Laiza gained experience, she took on additional responsibilities, including budgeting, scheduling, cooking, meal planning, creating grocery lists, and managing the household. Each new task helped her refine her skills.

Live-in helper balances family and duties

Balancing her responsibilities as a live-in domestic worker with being a mother to her own children is Laiza Moyo’s greatest challenge. She explained that living with her employers meant she often missed out on valuable time with her kids, which has been emotionally difficult for her.

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Despite this, Moyo has managed to accomplish impressive goals thanks to the income she earns. She revealed that she’s currently building a home in Zimbabwe, something she considers a major achievement given the tough economic conditions there. In addition to construction efforts, she’s also able to send her children to school and support her mother, which she views as deeply meaningful outcomes of her hard work.

When her child experienced serious medical issues, Moyo said her employers were supportive and accommodating. She described how her job provided not only financial stability but also a sense of normalcy during a highly stressful time, and she deeply appreciated the compassion and flexibility shown by the family she works for.

Housekeeper advocates for fair treatment

Moyo has become a mentor to newer domestic workers and sees herself as a leader in the field. She's even helping create a cleaning tips book to assist other House Executives who lack access to online training videos due to data costs and a lack of mobile devices.

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She believes domestic workers in South Africa need better recognition and should be given fair employment benefits. According to legal experts at LegalWise, domestic workers should be given the minimum wage or more, according to negotiations, ensuring they receive proper compensation for their skilled labour.

"In South Africa, House Executives are often perceived as less valuable than other employees. One change that could greatly improve our situation is shifting this perception to one of respect and appreciation for our essential contributions to households and the economy."

Her inspiring message to other women is clear:

"Don't be ashamed of yourself. Confidence is the key, and giving up is not an option. You have family to feed."

Other Briefly News Women of Wonder stories

• Briefly News recently reported on Nelia Ngulube, a Johannesburg domestic worker with 16 years of experience, who found sweet success with her new rusk business.
• Beauty Katiyo, known as Gogo Mujubheki online, has been building her social media presence for 15 years as a domestic worker sharing home remedies, but the way she finds beauty in her challenging work has inspired thousands of followers.
• Another dedicated domestic worker named Seneria Moyo overcame humble beginnings through hard work and determination, but the sacrifices she made for her family and what she achieved through her earnings are inspiring many.

Proofreading by Roxanne Dos Ramos, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News