The Real Network The Ma(i)de Sessions

The Ma(i)de Sessions

Domestic workers and cleaners occupy a unique position in a society. They are simultaneously the most ubiquitous and invisible among us. They are ever-present in our personal, professional and public spaces but often go largely undetected. These women have the potential to be the most powerful and astute social commentators as they hold a mirror to ourselves, to our children, and to our fellow citizens. Be a fly on the wall as we gain their unique perspectives on an interesting range of matters that characterise South African society.
Weekly English South Africa Society & Culture · Health & Fitness
69 Episodes
44 – 64

The Interview: Mfundo

Do you know how to make a baby bottle? Wash a dog? Mow the lawn? Discipline a child that is not yours? We start today with the first of The Interview Series, where we will conduct less-than-conventional interviews on behalf of a high profile 'madam' in search of a perfect…
13 Oct 2016 47 min

Ma(i)de Views: Linda

Sometimes professions turn into family legacies; this isn’t always a good thing. We’ve found that most of the women we’ve spoken to have found themselves in their jobs by accident, one usually brokered by a third party (most often a family member). Like many domestic workers, Linda inherited her job…
6 Oct 2016 38 min

Guerrilla Warfare

The ladies reflect on their journey so far. It's certainly been a whirlwind. They share some of the lessons they've learnt about forgiveness, stigma, and the art of guerrilla warfare.
29 Sep 2016 39 min

Game Theory: Stima

Sometimes seemingly simple conversations can become hard. Often we find ourselves talking AT each other rather than TO each other; in an effort to be heard. Our conversation with Stima unfolded in this fashion. She expelled her thoughts under the topic of 'money and power'; an ever-so-present and prevalent force…
22 Sep 2016 21 min

Bantu Reflections

The ladies reflect on last week's parody show, Your Bantu Servant and You. They try to figure out what parts of this whacky document by the Department of Non-European Affairs of 1962 are fact or fiction in present day South Africa. They also introduce us to an official open letter…
8 Sep 2016 45 min

Your Bantu Servant and You

This broadcast has been prepared by the Department of Non-European Affairs in hopes that it will help you in your day to day dealings with your Bantu servant. Remember ladies, never appear in front of your male servants in a state of undress! This and more in a Ma(i)de Sessions…
1 Sep 2016 16 min

Ma(i)de with Zim Conversations

What if you left the country on a holiday to visit your spouse who was working in Zimbabwe to feed your family? What if suddenly you couldn't come back home and had to leave your kids in the care of their grandparents in a South Africa that was being run…
25 Aug 2016 56 min

Ma(i)de Views: Amanda Horwitz (Part 2)

Amanda is a white South African whose earliest memories of domestic work are from the dark (or rather white) ages of Apartheid. She talks us through her bittersweet experiences with the women who have played an indelible role in her life. Amanda’s is a South African journey in all its…
18 Aug 2016 43 min

Ma(i)de Views: Amanda Horwitz (Part 1)

Amanda is a white South African whose earliest memories of domestic work are from the dark (or rather white) ages of Apartheid. She talks us through her bittersweet experiences with the women who have played an indelible role in her life. Amanda’s is a South African journey in all its…
11 Aug 2016 34 min

The South African Way

Domestic work is one of those areas where in many ways South Africa is considered the special child in the global community. Ruth is an expat living in South Africa and she joins the Ma(i)de Sessions to give an outsider’s observations on our local remix of this global institution. To…
4 Aug 2016 32 min

21st Century Marriage Pt2: Something old, something new?

What is the difference between polygamy and cheating? Is a man a financial plan? Should married couples have separate bedrooms or even houses? And then there are mother-in-laws... 'nuff said. This and more in Pt 2!
28 Jul 2016 36 min

21st Century Marriage Pt1: Something old, something new?

21st century marriages are a dramatic affair with the old and the new constantly battling co-existence. Langa and Mandla come from different generations and have 35 years of domestic work experience between them. Drawing from their own experiences in addition to having worked for a variety of couples, they provide…
21 Jul 2016 34 min

Ma(i)de Aspirations: Made not Maid!

What determines our aspirations? Is it our concept of opportunity or its concept of us? We asked two domestic workers about their personal aspirations to help us unpack this conundrum.
14 Jul 2016 39 min

The Ma(i)de Sessions - The Mommy Market

Pachida's mom arrived in South Africa and built a strong and sustainable livelihood for her and her child. However, if you asked a six-year-old Pachida what her Mom did for a living, she would have told you, "My mom has a second family". Then you might have said, "WAIT, HOOOLD…
7 Jul 2016 41 min

The Ma(i)de Sessions - Who for art thou, Beauty?

Is Beauty real? Or is she actually Status in lipstick and stilettos? Furthermore, is it all part of a cosmic plan? Meisie and Sibahle help us to unpack what our face makeup tells us about our soul makeup. From interracial attraction, to skin bleaching, nose pegging, and even the Black…
30 Jun 2016 36 min

The Ma(i)de Sessions - Maidenomics

What is the real value of domestic workers? What is real value, period, and how is it linked to our values? Is one person's R10 worth more than another's? What can we learn from domestic workers about budgeting and investing? Finally, who are the Khumalos, the Naidoos, and the Krugers…
23 Jun 2016 53 min

The Ma(i)de Sessions - Sho't Left

Bra Joe is a taxi driver and a man of God. No - he's LITERALLY a pastor. But aren't taxi drivers meant to be lawless and Godless people? Well, apparently not. According to Bra Joe, in his line of work you've really gotta pray. A LOT. Mbali and Tuliza are…
9 Jun 2016 36 min

The Ma(i)de Sessions - Introducing "Mo Money, Mo Problems!"

Our domestic workers are the waste brigade. They know the money we've used and the money we've wasted well before it leaves our bank balance. They also observe the many social pressures that come with our pursuit of more. They know the old jeans we live in, the trendy shoes…
2 Jun 2016 36 min

The Ma(i)de Sessions - Born. Free?

Mfundo's mom is a domestic worker and his dad was a taxi driver. He is a 'born free', but for him attending University has been more of a street fight than a birthright. He joins the Ma(i)de Sessions to tackle the ever-burning question: Which of us are born free?
26 May 2016 1 hr 01 min

The Ma(i)de Sessions - The Other

South Africa is a nation obsessed with 'otherness'. But what the hell is 'othering' and who is 'The Other'? We continue our chat to Sociologist, Ragi, to try to understand what domestic work tells us about our conditioning. A very ideological conversation, but an important one to begin to understand…
19 May 2016 54 min
44 – 64