SA must catch up and start to honour women

I applaud Kenyan judge Teresiah Matheka in recognising the hard work that goes into housework and her ruling that unpaid labour get its dues.

She was able to legally bring to light the fact that maternity is more than just a time to bond with baby.

It is hard work, with no set hours, no remuneration package and no benefits in the event of a dissolution of the marriage.

When my kid was born, I took a leave of absence from my everyday field of work. I was home for a full year and six months. The intention was to see my child grow.

I was fortunate enough to be home for the milestones, but with the milestones came the illnesses and late nights.

I gave up me time in order to give him the best quality of life. During this time, the house needed to be kept clean, the laundry done and food had to be cooked.

Suffice to say I was constantly exhausted and by the time I went back to the world of work, I realised I did not rest at all.

The concept of only tangible income is one society has constructed. It believes this is what homes are built on.

This notion is devoid of the truth.

While one partner is in meetings and working late nights and early mornings to pay bills and put food on the table, another is providing the home support and child care that allows the former the comfort of going about his or her business in the knowledge that the children and home are in the hands of someone equally invested and with as much to gain … or even lose!

As such, the insult of not quantifying the work done by housewives and women on maternity leave should be forever banished.

In South Africa, maintenance courts are under siege because the finances of mainly women and vulnerable children are affected by a breach.

South Africa remains a land of applaudable legislation on paper, yet it is a perfect example as to how far behind we really are as a nation that cares equally for men and women and their contributions, even if those contributions don’t bring in the money.