The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) led by General Secretary Solly Phetoe and its Gauteng Provincial leadership will hold a picket outside the Lenasia Magistrates Court at 10am Thursday, 8 August, to call for justice and show support to the family of the domestic worker who was allegedly murdered by her employer for a R6 million insurance payout.

The South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU) will join the picket.

The Federation and the union are deeply pained by the brutal murder of 21-year-old Busiswa Nxumalo, allegedly at the hands of her employer Sithembile Xulu. The murder case against Xulu and her gardener, Simon Mogale, is set to continue. Xulu and Mogale stand accused of killing Nxumalo by slitting her throat and disposing of her body at the dumping site in Lenasia in January 2022.

It is alleged that prior to killing Nxumalo, Xulu took out three policies with three separate companies totalling R6 million on her domestic worker’s life. Xulu is further alleged to have convinced Mogale to assist in the murder for a share of the payout.

In a country where gender-based violence has reached endemic levels, it is a tragedy that Nxumalo’s young life was taken by the hand of another woman. In the most twisted manner, Nxumalo died at work; although the specific circumstance of her death could not have been envisioned when domestic workers were brought under cover of the Compensation Fund. Beginning March 2021, all domestic worker employers must register with the Compensation Fund to cover the worker in case of injury, disease or death while at work. Employers must pay over 1.04% of the worker’s annual earnings or the set minimum, whichever is higher, to the Compensation Fund.

Domestic workers are counted amongst the most vulnerable workers because they are spread out, making it difficult to organise them and open to some of the most exploitative and abusive practises. It is for their benefit along with farmworkers, hospitality workers, construction workers amongst others, that the National Minimum Wage was introduced. In March the minimum wage rose to R27.58 per hour. Domestic workers are entitled to a minimum of four hours pay, regardless of the hours worked for the day.

Employers whose domestic workers work for them for more than 24 hours per month must register them with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF); and deduct 1% of their monthly wages to pay it over to UIF, together with a 1% contribution from the employer.

While these measures were introduced to improve domestic workers’ earnings and conditions of work, compliance remains a challenge, leaving many domestic workers still vulnerable. It is likely this vulnerability that made Xulu think she could get away with murder. Xulu is a nurse by profession, and the idea that someone who is meant to care for the sick and vulnerable could be capable of murder is incomprehensible.

COSATU Gauteng and SADSAWU commit themselves not only to ensuring that justice is done for Nxumalo and her family but are also prepared to work tirelessly to ensure domestic workers’ rights are recognised and complied with.

Issued by COSATU Gauteng.

Provincial Chairperson: Amos Vusi Monyela, 079 493 5002

Provincial Secretary: Louisah Moepeng Modikwe, 082 297 2659