After 32 years of determination and sacrifice, domestic worker Phumla Mtwebana beamed with pride as she watched her daughter, Siyanda, being admitted as an attorney and notary of the High Court of SA.
Siyanda now works for Bowmans, one of the top five law firms in Africa.
Mtwebana supported her daughter throughout her academic journey, taking up various jobs to make ends meet.
When Siyanda passed matric in 2011, it was a proud moment that was overshadowed by the stress of having no financial support for her tertiary studies.
However, Mtwebana was determined to make her daughter’s dreams come true, no matter the sacrifice.
“Siyanda has always been a hard-working child.
“I knew I had to make sure she gets to university because I knew she was going to make a success of whatever she did.
“My former boss, Michael Pirie, was the one who helped to pay for the registration fees.
“Then, when we had to pay for the residence, I didn’t know how I would pay.
“But Michael paid again,” Mtwebana said.
Siyanda, who went on to obtain a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree, said the first couple of months during her studies were a real struggle, as she barely had enough money for food.
“I truly believe that God works in mysterious ways.
“I only had R500 a month and I learnt quickly that it wouldn’t be enough to survive on.
“I met some friends who really helped me.
“One friend, who has since passed away, was a real blessing and he offered to let me eat with him until my allowance was sorted.
“I took up part-time jobs such as modelling and promotional work so that I could afford food and clothes,” she said.
Pirie, who was Mtwebana’s employer for years, has also since died.
Siyanda graduated from the University of the Western Cape in 2016, and soon thereafter moved to Johannesburg to do her in-service training.
After struggling to secure a job to do her articles at a law firm, her dream of becoming an attorney finally came true.
“I believe my journey played out exactly the way it should have.
“I am so grateful to my mother and all the sacrifices she has made.
“I am proud of her for taking the job that she did.
“Most people would have said that being a domestic worker was below them, but she didn’t.
“It says a lot about the sort of woman she is.
“She even took my cousin in and has been taking care of her,” Siyanda said.
As a show of gratitude, Siyanda has bought her mother a house, and is having it renovated.
The house has enabled Mtwebana to open her heart and home to other members of her family, selflessly taking in her sister’s child and her daughter.
Siyanda has plans of doing more for her mother to thank her for all she has done for her over the years.
“There’s so much I want to do for my mother.
“I want to take her to many places.
“I have taken her to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
“I still want to take her to Durban and do international trips with her.
“She is the sort of person who appreciates even the smallest gifts such as shoes and clothes and lunch dates, and I want to give it all to her,” she said.
Mtwebana believes it is important to always remember where you come from.
When her daughter offered to buy her a house in the city, Mtwebana refused, instead opting for a house in Motherwell where she grew up.
“I wanted to stay in Motherwell, where people saw me struggle with my daughter.
“I have been on cloud nine.
“I am so proud of my child.
“All the hard work, mine and hers, has been worth it.
“My child is a graduate.
“She is still studying now, and I will continue to support her, even after I am retired,” the proud mother said.
Siyanda is also studying towards obtaining her postgraduate diploma in tax law at the University of Johannesburg.
The Herald
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