- Nosi Tshingila from Khayelitsha supports her five children by braaing pork, sausages and chicken feet after struggling for years to find work.
- She works long hours on her feet every day and still suffers swollen feet but cannot stop because her family depends on her income.
Nosi Tshingila, a mother of five from Khayelitsha in Cape Town, has found a way to survive after years of job hunting with no success.
She now works at a braaing stand in Site C near the taxi rank, where she prepares pork, sausages and chicken feet for customers.
Nosi said she had no experience when she first went looking for work at the stands. She was desperate to earn money to feed her children.
“When I went there I didn’t know anything about braaing but I told myself that I would do anything as long as I am going to get money to feed my family.”
A woman who owned one of the stands gave her a chance.
“I was so happy when she told me that I can assist in braaing meat, sausages, chicken feet and she didn’t have a problem that I didn’t know how to do it.”
She said the work was not difficult and she learnt quickly.
With the money she earns, Nosi buys food for her children and also sends money to her siblings in the Eastern Cape.
Her day starts at 07:30 and ends at 18:00. She spends most of that time standing and serving customers.
“I start working around 07:30 until 18:00, it is not an easy job because I stand on my feet almost the entire day and there’s no time to sit because people likes meat and we are always getting customers.”
Even after years of doing the job, she still struggles with swollen feet.
She said she cannot afford to stop working because her family depends on her.
“I am pushing even if I feel like giving up because there are no jobs even the graduates are doing the job I am doing.”
Image Caption: Nosi Tshingila pictured above
Image source: Buziwe Nocuze
